People + Leadership | SPG Research Group
Eight cognitive engines. One map of how you actually think.
Most leaders know what they are good at in general terms. Few can say which cognitive engine they reach for under pressure, which one they neglect, and what that costs their decisions. The SIA maps all eight, independently, from observable behavior.
The Strategic Intelligence Assessment is a behavioral self-report instrument. Scores are self-reported behavioral pattern indicators. They are directional indicators of self-reported behavioral tendency, not validated psychometric measurements, clinical assessments or classifications. Use results as development inputs, not selection criteria.
The problem this solves
Two leaders can sound equally sharp in a meeting and still decide very differently. One reasons from systems, the other from stories. One executes fast, the other watches their own thinking. The SIA makes those differences visible so you can use your strongest engines on purpose and cover the weak ones.
What generic intelligence or competency tests measure
One overall score, or a list of competencies rated one by one. Useful for a general read, silent on how the pieces interact under pressure.
What the SIA measures
Eight cognitive engines scored independently, so you see the profile: where you lead, where you lag, and which pairings help or hurt your decisions.
The architecture
Each engine is a distinct way of processing a problem. None is "best". Strong leaders know which one the moment calls for.
E1
Seeing the long game: direction, trade-offs and what to leave undone.
The engine behind choosing where to play and what not to chase.
E2
Seeing how parts interact: feedback loops, dependencies and second-order effects.
The engine behind anticipating what a decision will set in motion.
E3
Breaking a problem apart with evidence, logic and structured comparison.
The engine behind rigor when the data is available.
E4
Generating options that were not on the table and combining ideas in new ways.
The engine behind breaking out of a false either/or.
E5
Building and carrying the story that makes a direction understandable to others.
The engine behind alignment and sense-making.
E6
Reading people, relationships and the unspoken dynamics in a room.
The engine behind trust, influence and timing.
E7
Turning a decision into coordinated, sustained action.
The engine behind follow-through under competing demands.
E8
Watching your own thinking: noticing bias, confidence and when to change approach.
The engine that decides how well the other seven get used.
What you receive
Start free and go as deep as the decision in front of you warrants.
Quick scan
Ten questions. A directional read on your engine pattern. No account.
Full assessment
168 behavioral items across all eight engines. About 25 minutes.
Personalised report
Your engine profile, interactions between engines and what to do with them.
Interpretation session
A guided session to turn the profile into decisions and development steps.
How it is used
Understand your own engine pattern before a promotion, a board seat or a high-stakes decision, and choose where to build range.
Compare engine profiles across a team to see which ways of thinking are overrepresented and which are missing from the table.
How it differs
The SIA describes how you process problems, not who you are.
| Typical personality test | The SIA | |
|---|---|---|
| What it describes | Traits and preferences | Cognitive processing patterns |
| Output | A type label | An eight-engine profile with interactions |
| Built for | Self-discovery | Decision quality and development |
| Right use | Often misused for selection | Development only, never selection |
Design principles
Engines scored independently
No single overall number. Each engine stands alone so the profile shows shape, not a rank.
Behavior, not self-image
Items describe observable behavior so answers reflect what you do rather than who you hope to be.
Directional by design
Results are indicators to prompt reflection and conversation, never a verdict.
Get access
Ten questions for a directional read on your engine pattern. No account, no email.
Take the quick scan →168 behavioral items across all eight engines, with a personalised report. Book an interpretation session to turn it into action.
Go to the full assessment →Book an interpretation sessionPart of the SPG People + Leadership ecosystem
The SIA shows how you think. The Leadership Differential shows how your behavior lands with others. Together they separate a thinking gap from a behavior gap.
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