In OPTO+ Leadership, Complementary Aspects are the traits that balance the Managerial Aspects to support more effective, adaptable leadership. Each of the four Managerial Aspects is paired with a Complementary Aspect to form a dynamic tension that enables Versatile Leadership.
Once the four Managerial Aspects were identified through data analysis, the pairing of Managerial and Complementary Aspects went through a comprehensive qualitative process. This involved reviewing research on personality resulting in over thirty potential pairs. These pairs were then filtered based on specific OPTO data and further refined to ensure they differentiated meaningfully and complemented the others as a whole. The final pairs were chosen based on several criteria:
- They had to differentiate from each other.
- They needed to complement each other as a whole.
- They were evaluated through a qualitative process that considered their relevance and effectiveness in a recruitment context.
- Existing OPTO data was used to confirm that these pairs behaved as expected, with appropriate differentiation and minimal overlap.
For example, Assertiveness and Altruism were paired because research has shown, that they represent a balance leaders need to maintain. Assertiveness ensures that leaders can make tough decisions, take charge and be convincing, while Altruism ensures they remain empathetic, know when to step back, and make room for others. This balance is crucial for effective leadership.
There are definitely other pairs that could be interesting to explore, especially when specific Criteria are defined beforehand. The concept of seeing multiple scales to generate a synergy of insights is relatively new in OPTO but is gaining traction as more people get familiar with OPTO+ Leadership.