A Short Self-Check for HR Leaders and Sponsors
(links to Recovery Self-Check and Companion Guide are below)
Senior leadership situations do not always announce themselves clearly.
Sometimes performance appears stable, but confidence is narrowing.
Sometimes feedback repeats without resolution.
Sometimes concern is present, but difficult to name.
This short self-check is designed to help you identify early signals that a leadership situation may be shifting from development into recovery territory.
Purpose
This self-check helps determine whether a leadership situation still sits in a development window, or whether it may be entering a recovery window where timing, confidence, and risk require more explicit attention.
This is not an evaluation of the leader’s character or potential.
It is a context and timing check.
Who this self-check is for
This self-check is intended for:
- HR leaders and talent partners
- CEOs and executive sponsors
- Senior leaders responsible for leadership decisions
It is most useful when concerns are emerging, but no formal action has been taken.
What this self-check does
This self-check helps you:
- Surface early signals that may otherwise remain unspoken
- Distinguish discomfort from genuine risk
- Legitimize uncertainty without escalation
- Create language for further discussion
It does not ask you to draw conclusions or take action.
What this self-check is not
This self-check is not:
- A performance assessment
- A diagnostic tool
- A decision instrument
- A trigger for intervention
Its purpose is recognition, not resolution.
How to use the self-check
Review each statement based on current reality, not intent.
Look for patterns over time rather than isolated events.
Treat the results as information, not judgment.
Access the Recovery Self-Check
The Are We in a Recovery Window? self-check is available as a short PDF and may be used privately or for internal reflection.
[Download the Recovery Self-Check]
A companion reference is available for those who want additional context when interpreting the signals.
[Download the Recovery Self-Check Companion Guide]
Next step
The Leadership Recovery Decision Guide helps HR leaders and sponsors understand how different signals combine into recovery windows and what those windows imply for timing, risk, and response.
The Decision Guide is designed to interpret what these signals may mean before any intervention is chosen. This guide is optional. It is designed to support decision quality, not replace a confidential conversation.