Zenger Folkman Extraordinary Leader 360 Degree Assessment
The most research-backed leadership assessment in the world. Delivered by one of the few certified practitioners in the U.S., based right here in Cincinnati.
If you're a senior leader, you've probably taken a 360° assessment before. Maybe more than one. And maybe you walked away with a stack of pages, a few interesting data points, and not much that actually changed how you led.
Zenger Folkman’s 360 is different, and it's why Don has built his coaching practice around it.
Why Zenger Folkman?
Zenger Folkman's research is built on more than one million 360° assessments and decades of peer-reviewed studies on what actually makes leaders effective. The findings have been published in Harvard Business Review and shaped how the world's leading companies develop leaders.
Three things set it apart:
It focuses on strengths, not deficits. Most assessments tell you what's wrong. Zenger Folkman's research shows that great leaders aren't well-rounded — they have a few "profound strengths." The assessment helps you identify which of your strengths, developed further, will most increase your effectiveness.
It identifies "companion behaviors." Want to develop a strength? Zenger Folkman's data shows the specific, often non-obvious behaviors that, when paired together, dramatically accelerate development. This is the secret to actually changing how you lead.
It's measurable. Don re-administers the assessment at the end of an engagement, so your growth is documented — not just felt.
How a ZF 360 Works with Don
Set up conversation: You and Don talk through your goals and identify the right group of raters — typically your manager, peers, direct reports, and others who see your leadership up close.
Confidential assessment: Raters complete the assessment online. All responses are aggregated and anonymous, ensuring honest feedback.
Debrief: Don walks you through your results in a private session — not handing you a report, but helping you see the patterns, the strengths to build on, and the one or two changes that will create the most leverage.
Coaching engagement: The 360 is the foundation of a focused 6- or 12-month coaching engagement. Together, you'll build new habits, practice them in real situations, and track measurable progress.
Re-assessment: At the end of the engagement, the 360 is administered again. Your growth is documented, and your raters see the change.
Who is it for?
Zenger Folkman 360 assessments are designed for:
CEOs and C-suite executives at mid-sized to large companies
Senior leaders preparing for a larger role
High-performing leaders who feel they've plateaued
Executive teams who want to develop together
HR and talent leaders investing in their senior bench
Don works with leaders across Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, Dayton, and Columbus — and remotely with leaders nationwide
Frequently Asked Questions
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Most raters complete the survey in 15–20 minutes. Don typically allows 2–3 weeks from launch to debrief, depending on rater response times.
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Most engagements include 10–15 raters: your manager, 4–6 peers, 4–6 direct reports, and 1–2 others who see your leadership in action. Don will help you pick the right group.
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Yes. Individual responses are never shared. Feedback is aggregated by rater category (peers, direct reports, etc.), and minimum response thresholds ensure no individual can be identified.
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It's possible, but Don rarely recommends it. The data is most valuable when it's interpreted in context and paired with a coaching process that helps you act on it. Insight without action rarely changes leadership.
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Those are self-report personality assessments — they describe your tendencies. A Zenger Folkman 360 measures how effective you actually are as a leader, based on the people you work with every day. Both have a role, but only a 360 tells you how your leadership is landing.
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Yes. While Don is based in Cincinnati and works extensively with leaders across the Greater Cincinnati area, Northern Kentucky, and Dayton, he works with clients remotely throughout the U.S.