Six Domains of Leadership® Survey 360° Assessment
Leaders work hard to do the right things. The challenge arises when intention and impact do not align. The Six Domains of Leadership Survey (SDLS) gives you clear evidence of how your behavior affects people, teams, and results.
Grounded in more than twenty years of research at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business by professors Sim Sitkin and Allan Lind, this assessment turns broad leadership ideals into specific, observable actions. You see where you lead well, where others need more from you, and what to adjust to strengthen performance across your organization.
15,243+
SDLS Assessments Completed
A 360° view of your real leadership impact
Most leaders receive fragmented feedback from one person at a time. The SDLS pulls all of that insight into one structured view. Supervisors, peers, direct reports, and other stakeholders rate the same set of behaviors, so you can compare how different groups experience you.
You receive quantitative scores and written comments. The numbers show patterns. The comments give context. Together they provide a detailed, practical map for your growth as a leader.
What leaders gain
Leaders who use the Six Domains of Leadership Survey:
What your organization gains
Organizations that use the SDLS create a consistent, research-based standard for leadership. Feedback connects directly to culture and performance goals rather than one-off opinions.
The SDLS can help you:
Align Expectations
Use one clear framework to define effective leadership across levels and functions.
Support talent decisions
Use rich behavior data to inform succession planning, promotions, and development investments.
Strengthen culture
Encourage leaders to model integrity, care, and accountability in visible, concrete ways.
Measure progress
Track changes in leadership behavior over time and link those changes to team outcomes.
How the SDLS 360°
Assessment Works
The process follows a structured, supportive path
from feedback to action.
This process respects people’s time and attention. The assessment runs through an online platform, and leaders move quickly from feedback into meaningful change.
Evidence-based, behaviorally anchored feedback
The SDLS does more than collect opinions. It grounds every question in decades of research on how leaders build trust, inspire performance, and act responsibly. The items describe specific behaviors, helping raters answer accurately and leaders understand what to do differently.
Because the survey uses behaviorally anchored scales, leaders see the difference between “sometimes” and “consistently” in practical terms. You can translate each score into visible habits, conversations, and decisions.
The six domains that define effective leadership
The SDLS focuses on six connected domains of behavior. Each domain links directly to outcomes people care about: trust, engagement, performance, and ethical results.
You see how you show up in each of these areas:
PERSONAL
LEADERSHIP
Show credibility through competence, integrity, and consistency in your actions and decisions.
RELATIONAL LEADERSHIP
Build trust by showing care, empathy, and respect for the people who work with you.
CONTEXTUAL LEADERSHIP
Create a sense of community by clarifying purpose and aligning people around shared goals.
INSPIRATIONAL LEADERSHIP
Set high aspirations by motivating and energizing others to pursue strong performance.
SUPPORTIVE LEADERSHIP
Encourage initiative by empowering others and giving them the tools and backing they need to act.
RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP
Demonstrate stewardship by making ethical choices and taking ownership for outcomes that affect others.
These domains connect. Changes in one area often shift your impact in others. The SDLS helps you see those links so you can focus on the few behaviors that create the greatest ripple effect.
Integrated with development
and coaching
The Six Domains of Leadership 360° Survey fits smoothly into broader leadership programs. Coaches and facilitators can use the six domain framework to shape workshops, action plans, and on-the-job practice.
Leaders receive feedback, structured support, and a framework that sustains development over time. This creates a stronger bench of leaders who act with clarity, fairness, and accountability.
Bring the Six Domains of Leadership 360° Survey to your organization
Give your leaders clear insight into their impact and a focused path to growth.
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Partner with us to strengthen leadership across your organization.
