All quality developmental processes must begin with a clear understanding of current reality and this is the role that assessment plays in leadership development whether with an individual or a team. Springtide Leadership Development has a strong preference for using the Leadership Circle Profile assessment tool in every engagement. In addition to presenting a very effective leadership capacity assessment, the Leadership Circle model also reveals the reactive tendencies an individual or team possesses that work against their full leadership capacity—revealing both the "what" and the "why" o the team's or individual's approach to leadership.