How to Use a 9 Box Assessment for Talent Recruitment

The 9 box grid talent assessment is an individual assessment tool that gauges an employee’s talent level and potential for contributing to the organization. A 3x3 box matrix is set up, with the vertical columns showing an employee’s growth potential and horizontal rows being their current performance. Depending on the square they end up in, the 9 box grid performance potential will help you to determine if an employee is ready to move up in the ranks or needs to be reassessed in their current position before moving up.9 box grid talent assessment is a popular performance assessment method for simplicity and reported effectiveness. This graphic exercise of evaluation is an ideal starter for constructive dialogue and, in turn, can help develop discussion and teamwork.

What Does a 9 Box Assessment Scores Mean?

According to the 9 box talent management mode, the people who score in box 1 should be ready for top leadership within 6 months to a year. Those in boxes 2, 3, or 6 have a longer timeline but can be considered for future leadership positions. Additionally, Scores on the lower side have either reached their potential, need to be coached more actively, or need to be reassigned to a position that better fits their skill set and job performance capabilities.A good HR Professional should have as many tools as possible to measure individuals' performance in their company. 9 box talent management has time and again proven to be a useful resource in both gauging employee’s potential for upward mobility and assessing pain-points for underperformance.

9 Box Matrix Talent Management Example

UnderperformanceEffective PerformanceOutstanding PerformanceHigh Potential5An experienced professional fit for a higher role but may be dealing with performance issues that require coaching and mentoring.2Very high performance in current position. Provide stretch assignments to help them develop to the next level.1Consistently performs and exceeds expectations on assigned projects: extremely reliable self-directed creative thinker and problem solver.Medium Potential8They could progress in their skill level with the proper mentoring; test this employee's potential with stretch assignments and goals.6Potential for expanded responsibilities, but may need coaching in several areas before role expansion.3Their current role provides growth opportunities. Training focuses on improving strategic thinking and problem-solving ability.Low Potential9This employee should be evaluated for reclassification of role/responsibilities or to be removed from the organization.7The effective performance, but this employee may have reached their career potential and may be suited for advancement.4A high performer who has reached full potential. A valuable employee who can grow communications and delegation skills.

Benefits of 9 Box Grid Talent Assessment

Here are the main benefits that are offered by this simple, effective method of talent assessment.

Simple

This straightforward skill assessment can be used by anyone in a management or HR position without extensive training. It’s simplicity also means that the assessment results are easy to understand and communicate for both the person administering the assessment and the person taking it.

Free

You heard me. The 9 Box Assessments are not proprietary and therefore free for anyone interested in using them. This gives companies the flexibility to invest in paid assessment tools and use 9 Box Assessments as a supplemental assessment tool to complement analytically-driven solutions.

Facilitates Structured Dialogue

A 9 Box Matrix will help start a dialogue between employees and managers about mutual expectations for performance and mobility. Just as important, it will provide a structure to these discussions with summarized assessments of performance data laid out for both parties to see. Both of these factors help to create a more efficient and communicative workplace.

Is A 9 Box Assessment Enough?

The biggest flaw to this sort of matrix assessment is human error. Furthermore, results can be skewed or incorrect due to miscommunication or personal bias. Ideally, you are working at a company where everyone is constantly striving to do their best, but mistakes happen even then. With that in mind, you may want to add another tool to help take miscommunications out of the equation. This way, you can use an analytically driven assessment tool to systemize performance evaluations and use 9 box talent assessments. moreover, the goal is to summarize performance data sets, such as those gathered from your current tools and assessments from managers.Loxo is an all-in-one recruitment platform that makes it easy to assess candidates' skill levels that you source. Also, Powered by AI and combining your ATS and CRM, Loxo sources the best candidates in your industry. At the same time, you sleep and populate your ATS with their information from multiple online sources. Sign up for a demo here to see how Loxo will help you source better candidates faster and more easily than any other recruitment platform.