California Psychological Inventory™ (CPI™)

Identify and nurture talent

The California Psychological Inventory™ (CPI™) assessments are powerful tools for helping individuals improve their performance. Using a sophisticated technique to extract detailed personality insights, they summarize and explain how other people see a person and judge his or her leadership style. In a recent survey, 66% of organizations reported that they had improved individuals’ leadership effectiveness using the CPI 260® assessment. The CPI 260 assessment enables organizations to find and develop high-potential employees, making it an essential tool for your investment in employee training and development.

Enhance executive management training

The CPI assessments help people gain a clearer picture of their personal and work-related characteristics, motivations, and thinking style. They use an empirical measure, comparing an individual’s responses to data on 5,600 managers and executives who participated in the Leadership Development Program at the Center for Creative Leadership® (CCL®). The CPI assessments indicate which of four different ways of living, or lifestyles, best describe the respondent. They offer a unique perspective on how people manage themselves and deal with others, indicating strengths and developmental opportunities. 

How the CPI assessment works

The key to leadership development and selection

CPI assessment can be used to enhance:

  • Leadership competencies—By assessing individuals' orientation toward people, rules, and values and their inner feelings, the CPI assessments identify which competencies are strengths and which are areas for development.
  • Executive motivation—The CPI assessments look at individuals' drive and current level of satisfaction, enabling them to identify and address issues.
  • Performance improvement—CPI insights increase leaders’ self-awareness and help them adjust their individual and team communication.
  • Succession planning—The CPI assessments help organizations build leaders at all levels and strengthen their leadership pipeline.
  • Selection and retention—The CPI assessments support finding the right talent and keeping those individuals engaged.
  • Executive coaching—Use the CPI assessments to create developmental plans that empower leaders to reach their full potential.
Visualizer Innovator Supporter Implementer Visualizers tend to see themselves as detached, frank, reflective, and unconventional, but not as enthusiastic, forceful or sociable. They tend to be seen by others as dreamy, modest, quiet, and unassuming, but not as assertive, energetic, outgoing, or talkative. Innovators tend to see themselves as complicated, humorous, pleasure-seeking, and spontaneous, but not as conservative, conventional, placid, or submissive. They tend to be seen by others as clever, frank, impulsive, and witty, but not as conservative, conventional, methodical, or timid. Supporters tend to see themselves as conscientious, modest, patient, and reserved, but not as assertive, irritable, outspoken, or sarcastic. They tend to be seen by others as cautious, inhibited, peaceable, and retiring, but not as adventurous, daring, individualistic, or quick. Implementers tend to see themselves as ambitious, efficient, industrious, and organized, but not as confused, dissatisfied, lazy, or moody They tend to be seen by others as active, ambitious, enterprising, and organized, but not as apathetic, cynical, moody, or shy. Rule-favoring Rule-questioning Initiates action Focuses on inner life

Two CPI assessments are available. The CPI 260 assessment offers practical, down-to-earth insights for organizational development, coaching, and HR applications in a business or organizational context. The CPI 434™ assessment is designed for professionals who are qualified to use complex assessment tools and have a solid background in personality theory and assessment methodology, as well as experience in the analysis of individual test data. 

Get CPI Certified

Learn how to use the CPI 260 assessment and discover how to effectively identify and develop leadership traits.

GET CPI CERTIFIED

What our customers are saying

The CPI 260 assessment is an excellent tool for providing the foundation to build a coaching relationship based on empirical data. For executives and aspiring leaders, the tool provides a lens to develop leaders who can: aspire to challenge the process of leadership, create visionary leadership, enable others to act, modeling leadership and encouraging the heart. 

— Hollis M. Pierce, Educational Consultant and Leadership Coach, Advanced Strategies for Professional Development

The CPI tool is effective; it provides a valuable comparative snapshot and useful feedback.

— Lupita McClenning, Director, Planning & Government Services, Coastal Regional Commission

Using the CPI 260 assessment helped our organization increase awareness around talent development plans.

— Jacqueline Villafane, Leadership Development, The American National Red Cross

The CPI 260 has helped us understand the individuals in our organization better and has helped the individuals as well.

— Immanuel Mohan, Head of Global HR, Iris Software, Inc.

The CPI 260 has given my company a valuable tool to focus on the development of leaders, how best to engage with a leader and help them improve their performance.

— Cort Heroy, Director of Clinical Assessment, Amitrius, LLC

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