A deeper look at one of the most powerful tools in my coaching toolkit.
When I first started using psychometric assessments in coaching, I spent a long time exploring which ones actually delivered useful, actionable insights. Over time, I kept coming back to one in particular: the HOGAN suite of assessments. It’s now the tool I trust the most – and here’s why.
It’s Not Just About Who You Think You Are
Most personality tests focus on your self-perception – how you see yourself. And while that can be useful, it doesn’t always match up with how others experience you in real life. The HOGAN suite is different. It focuses on your reputation – the behaviours and traits that others are likely to notice about you, especially at work.
That distinction matters. Because in a professional environment, your success is often influenced not just by your intentions or inner values, but by the impact you have on those around you. If you want to lead well, build trust, or collaborate effectively, understanding how others perceive you is essential.
A 3D View of Personality
HOGAN assessments don’t give you just one type of insight – they offer three. This multi-dimensional view is what makes it so powerful.
- The Bright Side – Your Day-to-Day Strengths
The Hogan Personality Inventory (HPI) looks at how you typically behave when things are going well. It’s based on the Five-Factor Model of personality, and shows you your likely strengths in areas like leadership, communication, planning, and interpersonal style. This is where we identify what’s working – and what you can lean into more consciously. - The Dark Side – When Pressure Hits
The Hogan Development Survey (HDS) explores what happens under stress or pressure. We all have patterns that show up when we’re tired, overloaded, or out of our comfort zone. Maybe you withdraw, become overly cautious, micromanage, or try too hard to please. The HDS doesn’t judge these behaviours – it helps you notice and manage them, so they don’t derail your progress. - The Inside – What Really Drives You
The Motives, Values, Preferences Inventory (MVPI) digs into what motivates you at your core. This is about values, not behaviour. What do you care about? What sort of environments bring out your best? What kind of recognition or reward feels meaningful to you? These insights help you align your work, goals, and decisions with what actually matters most to you.
Why This Matters in Coaching
Self-awareness is the starting point for almost every meaningful change. When we understand our patterns – how we show up, how we react under pressure, and what drives us, we’re in a much better place to lead ourselves and others. It allows for more authentic decisions, stronger communication, and better relationships.
That’s why I use the HOGAN assessments as a foundation in many of my coaching programmes. It accelerates understanding, often surfacing things that would take months to uncover through conversation alone.
And It’s Not Just for Individuals
HOGAN isn’t just a coaching tool for individuals – it’s incredibly effective for businesses and teams. It can be used to support leadership development, succession planning, team alignment, and recruitment processes.
When teams understand the personalities within them – not just on a surface level, but in terms of stress triggers, motivators, and interpersonal styles – collaboration improves, conflicts reduce, and performance increases. It’s not about labelling people. It’s about creating awareness, alignment, and trust.
What Happens When You Take It
If you decide to take the HOGAN assessments, here’s what the process looks like:
- You’ll complete three online assessments (they take about 45 minutes in total).
- Once the results are in, I’ll guide you through a full feedback session. We’ll explore what your scores mean, how they show up in your day-to-day work, and what they suggest about your leadership style, motivators, and development areas.
- From there, we’ll use the insights as a foundation for coaching – whether we’re working on personal growth, communication, career change, or leadership development.
- It’s not about putting you in a box. It’s about opening the right doors.
Final Thoughts
I’ve worked with a lot of tools over the years, but HOGAN continues to be the most nuanced and insightful when it comes to understanding how people operate in the real world. It’s evidence-based, globally recognised, and grounded in decades of research – but more importantly, it’s practical. The insights you get are ones you can actually use.
If you’re curious about how HOGAN could support your growth, or your team’s – I’d love to chat. You can get in touch, or book a free discovery call to explore if it’s the right next step for you.
