Put your own executive functions to the test by completing this questionnaire !

Preview image of the printable Executive Skills Questionnaire

Click here to access the Executive Skills Questionnaire in printable PDF format.

Adapted from: Coaching students with executive skills deficits. Dawson, P., & Guare, R. (2012). Copyright Guilford Press. Reprinted with permission of The Guilford Press.

Instructions

Step 1: Read each item below and then rate that item based on the extent to which you agree or disagree with how well it describes you. Use the rating scale below to choose the appropriate score.

  1. Strongly Disagree
  2. Disagree
  3. Tend to disagree
  4. Neutral
  5. Tend to Agree
  6. Agree
  7. Strongly Agree

Questionnaire

Response Inhibition

  • I don’t jump to conclusions.
  • I think before I speak.
  • I don’t take action without having all the facts.

Total response inhibition score: ___

Working Memory

  • I have a good memory for facts, dates, and details.
  • I am very good at remembering the things I have committed to do.
  • I seldom need reminders to complete tasks.

Total working memory score: ___

Emotional Control

  • My emotions seldom get in the way when performing on the job.
  • Little things do not affect me emotionally or distract me from the task at hand.
  • I can defer my personal feelings until after a task has been completed.

Total emotional control score: ___

Task Initiation

  • No matter what the task, I believe in getting started as soon as possible.
  • Procrastination is usually not a problem for me.
  • I seldom leave tasks to the last minut

Total task initiation score: ___

Sustained Attention

  • I find it easy to stay focused on my work.
  • Once I start an assignment, I work diligently until it’s completed.
  • Even when interrupted, I find it easy to get back and complete the job at hand.

Total sustained attention score: ___

Planning/Prioritizing

  • When I plan out my day, I identify priorities and stick to them
  • When I have a lot to do, I can easily focus on the most important things .
  • I typically break big tasks down into subtasks and timelines.

Total planning/prioritizing score: ___

Organization

  • I am an organized person.
  • It is natural for me to keep my work area neat and organized.
  • I am good at maintaining systems for organizing my work.

Total organization score: ___

Time Management

  • At the end of the day, I’ve usually finished what I set out to do.
  • I am good at estimating how long it takes to do something.
  • I am usually on time for appointments and activities.

Total time management score: ___

Flexibility

  • I take unexpected events in stride.
  • I easily adjust to changes in plans and priorities.
  • I consider myself to be flexible and adaptive to change.

Total flexibility score: ___

Metacognition

  • I routinely evaluate my performance and devise methods for personal improvement.
  • I am able to step back from a situation in order to make objective decisions.
  • I “read” situations well and can adjust my behavior based on the reactions of others.

Total metacognition score: ___

Goal-Directed Persistence

  • I think of myself as being driven to meet my goals.
  • I easily give up immediate pleasures to work on long-term goals.
  • I believe in setting and achieving high levels of performance.

Total goal-directed persistence score: ___

Stress Tolerance

  • I enjoy working in a highly demanding, fast-paced environment.
  • A certain amount of pressure helps me to perform at my best.
  • Jobs that include a fair degree of unpredictability appeal to me.

Total stress tolerance score: ___

Instructions

Step 2: Now add the three scores in each section. Your executive skill strengths are your 2-3 highest scores, and your executive skills weaknesses are your 2-3 lowest scores.

Reflection Questions

  1. Look at your areas of strength and challenge. Are your results what you expected or were there any surprises? Explain.
  2. Do you tend to gravitate towards tasks that make use of your strengths? Why or why not?
  3. What strategies do you use to accommodate for your challenges? When do you tend to use these strategies? Can you think of additional strategies that might work for someone with similar challenges to your own, even if they may not work for you?