The ISP is a self-report questionnaire specifically designed to explore how a person typically goes about influencing and gaining support from others.  It provides a hierarchical pattern of scores that indicate the extent to which the individual uses the eight main differing approaches to influencing others.

The ISP comes in two formats - one for selection situations, and one for personal development. In the selection context, the instrument acts as an adjunct to other selection techniques that help to build up a picture of the candidate’s typical workplace behaviours. For development purposes, it helps the person to consider whether they utilise either a full or limited range of influencing styles; the extent to which they are able to select an appropriate style to suit different circumstances;  and, whether they wish to extend their repertoire of behaviours.