From Lab to Leadership: The Research Journey Behind the S2i

Every great tool has a story.

When you hold a precision-engineered watch, you know it represents countless hours of design, testing, and refinement. The same is true for the assessments we use at Lacuna Leadership™ especially the Stability of Self Inventory (S2i)^TM.

This isn’t a quick-turn, pop-psych quiz. It’s the product of years of research, validation, and real-world application—designed to measure the inner strengths that leaders need most in today’s unpredictable world.

Where It All Began

The journey started with a simple but powerful question:

What if we could reliably measure the inner qualities that determine whether a leader thrives—or falters—when faced with change?

While many tools measure personality traits like introversion or extroversion, the S2i digs deeper. It explores the stability of identity—the values, purpose, awareness, and resilience that determine whether leaders stay grounded when the pressure rises.

The Building Blocks: Where Theory Meets Practice

Developing the S2i meant standing on the shoulders of decades of psychological research. A few of the most influential foundations include:

·         Self-Concept Clarity – demonstrating how a stable sense of self leads to greater adaptability.

·         Resilience Theory – showing that resilience isn’t about avoiding stress, but learning to bend without breaking.

·         Values-Based Leadership Models – linking alignment between identity and action to sustainable, ethical leadership.

These frameworks weren’t just academic references; they became the scaffolding for an assessment designed for real leaders in real organizations.

The Validation Process

Building a reliable tool is like constructing a bridge—you test every component before anyone crosses. The S2i went through an intensive, multi-step validation process to ensure its accuracy and reliability:

1.      Item Development – Crafting questions free of bias and leading language incorporating PhD’s and Subject Matter Experts in the fields of Leadership and Organizational Psychology.

2.      Pilot Testing – Running trials with diverse populations to refine clarity and scoring, ensuring only the best items are a part of the assessment.

3.      Statistical Analysis – Using factor analysis to confirm that each item measures what it was designed to measure, ensuring validity and reliability.

4.      Benchmarking – Comparing results against other validated tools to confirm alignment and unique contributions.

The outcome? A rigorously tested tool with strong internal consistency across all seven subscales—Core Values, Meaning & Purpose, Connection, Awareness, Openness to Learn, Agency, and Grit.

Real-World Proof: Better Emotional Intelligence and Hardiness

The real test of any assessment isn’t in the lab—it’s in the lives of the leaders who use it. That’s where the S2i shines.

Research shows that leaders with stronger S2i scores demonstrate significant improvements in two critical areas of leadership performance:

·         Emotional Intelligence (EI): Leaders with high Sense of Self are better at perceiving, managing, and using emotions—both their own and others’. This translates to stronger communication, healthier relationships, and greater influence across teams.

·         Psychological Hardiness: Leaders with stable identity foundations show greater resilience when facing adversity. They maintain composure, interpret challenges as growth opportunities, and stay committed to goals even under prolonged stress.

In other words, the S2i doesn’t just describe leaders—it equips them with the tools to lead with clarity, confidence, and steadiness when it matters most.

From Lab to the Leader’s Desk

Of course, rigorous research is only valuable if leaders can put it into action. That’s why the S2i was designed with usability in mind. Every report includes:

·         Clear breakdowns of scores across the seven dimensions of stability.

·         Actionable recommendations tied to each area of strength and growth.

·         Practical strategies leaders can begin applying immediately.

The S2i isn’t about labeling people. It’s about equipping them with a deeper understanding of their identity—and the tools to strengthen it over time.

Why This Matters More Than Ever

We live in an era of constant disruption: market volatility, global crises, technological upheaval. For leaders, the question isn’t if disruption will come—it’s when.

Skills alone can’t prepare you for that kind of uncertainty. What leaders need is a grounded identity: a clear sense of who they are, what they value, and how they can respond under pressure. That’s exactly what the S2i measures and strengthens.

By bridging scientific rigor with real-world leadership needs, the S2i provides both coaches and organizations with a data-backed way to develop leaders who are not just skilled, but stable, resilient, and ready for whatever comes next.

The Bottom Line

The road from lab to leadership is long—but worth every step.

When you see a leader stay calm in chaos, make values-driven decisions under pressure, or inspire their team in the middle of adversity, you’re seeing the very qualities the S2i was built to measure and develop.

That’s the power of a validated tool designed for the realities of leadership.

Curious about the science behind your own sense of self?

Visit www.lacunaleadership.com to explore the Stability of Self Inventory and discover how data with depth can unlock clarity, resilience, and performance in your leadership journey.