The Kaiser Leadership Versatility Index (LVI) is built on a dynamic model that emphasizes balance and adaptability in leadership across four key dimensions: Forceful versus Enabling and Strategic versus Operational. These dimensions reflect the tension between driving results and empowering people, as well as between long-term visionary thinking and effective day-to-day execution.
This dynamic model which looks at ‘How you lead‘ and ‘What you lead‘ provides a readily understandable foundation for both the leaders and those rating their behaviours. It also reflects the fluidity of the environments in which leaders operate. To navigate the complexities of the leadership contexts in the modern workplace requires awareness and adaptability to notice and respond to changes, whilst maintaining leadership authenticity and consistency. This is the primary reason that I love working with the LVI 360 alongside ACT based leadership coaching. You can read about my conceptualisation of the skills from ACT for leaders here.
The LVI also uses a unique rating scale that measures behaviors not only by their presence or absence but also by their intensity—whether they are underused, optimally used, or overused. This nuanced approach provides leaders with actionable insights into how their tendencies may hinder or enhance their effectiveness in different contexts, and with different rater groups, offering a clear roadmap for the development of psychologically flexible leadership.
I have used the LVI 360 with many leaders and witnessed the power of the insights it provides, from those new to a leadership role to highly seasoned leaders. I am fully trained to use the LVI 360 and if you’d like to find out more, for yourself as a leader, or for leaders in your organisation, you can arrange an initial conversation with me here.
