The Highlands Ability Battery (HAB)
Deep self-knowledge for confident, meaningful career decisions.
The Highlands Ability Battery (HAB) is one of the most respected, research-backed assessments for discovering your natural abilities — the innate strengths you were born with and use effortlessly throughout life.
Unlike personality tests or interest questionnaires, HAB measures your actual performance through a series of timed, objective work samples.
It reveals how your mind works, and which kinds of roles, tasks and environments will allow you to thrive.
For many clients, HAB is the moment clarity arrives.
It explains years of career highs and lows — and lights the path forward.
Why Natural Abilities Matter — Especially in Mid-Career
By your 30s, 40s and 50s, you’ve built skills, experience and reputation.
But that doesn’t always mean your role is still the right fit.
Many of my clients come to me feeling:
successful on paper but unfulfilled
capable yet under-used
drained by work that once energised them
torn between career options
unsure what “fit” looks like anymore
Skills tell you what you can do.
Your natural abilities reveal what you’re built to do.
When your work aligns with your abilities, you feel:
energised
confident
creative
motivated
and deeply satisfied
When it doesn’t, even high performers experience stress, frustration and burnout.
HAB helps you understand this difference — clearly and objectively.
What HAB Measures
Through 19 timed work samples, HAB measures your:
Cognitive Abilities
How you analyse, reason, problem-solve and absorb information.
Creative & Structural Abilities
How you generate ideas, organise information, sequence tasks and create new concepts.
Communication & Visualisation Abilities
How you understand, translate and express information.
Personal Style Indicators
Preferences related to pace, collaboration, environment and motivation.
These abilities remain stable throughout life.
HAB simply reveals what you’ve always done naturally — even if you’ve never had words for it.
Why HAB Is Different From Other Assessments
You may have already explored tools such as:
DISC
Myers-Briggs (MBTI)
StrengthsFinder
Values or interests questionnaires
These can be helpful, but they’re based on self-perception — how you feel or believe you are.
HAB is different.
HAB measures your actual performance, providing insight into abilities that:
you may not recognise in yourself
you might undervalue
you may have been using unconsciously
or you may not be using at all
It also highlights ability “mismatches” — a key reason many mid-career professionals feel stuck, bored or exhausted.
Your HAB Experience With Diana
When you take HAB through Working Career, you receive:
✔ Access to the full online Highlands Ability Battery
✔ Two detailed personal reports (30–40 pages combined)
✔ A 1.5-hour one-to-one debrief with me
✔ A clear, practical interpretation of your ability patterns
✔ Insight into ideal work environments, role types and pathways
✔ Ability-aligned career recommendations
✔ A personalised summary you can refer back to throughout your career
This isn’t about handing you a report and leaving you to interpret it alone.
It’s a collaborative, meaningful process that connects your natural abilities with real-world career direction.
Clients often say:
“For the first time, I understand why some roles drained me — and which ones will suit me naturally.”
Want to See What a HAB Report Looks Like?
Many clients find it helpful to preview sample reports before taking the assessment. Highlands provides examples so you can see the depth and quality of the insights you’ll receive.
These samples show:
how ability patterns are presented
how strengths cluster into meaningful profiles
what your personalised guidance may look like
Your own report will be unique to you and explored deeply during your feedback session.
How HAB Fits Into the FULFIL™ Career Change Programme (launching Janaury 2026)
The Highlands Ability Battery is included in two FULFIL™ tiers:
FULFIL™ Plus
For professionals who want deeper self-understanding and personalised direction.
FULFIL™ Complete
For those who want full support — from clarity through to implementation.
HAB strengthens your FULFIL™ journey by giving you:
a clear “why” behind your past experiences
an objective foundation for future decisions
language to communicate your strengths confidently
clarity about which roles, environments or paths will fit
a powerful way to differentiate yourself in applications or interviews
insight into whether employment or self-employment aligns better with your wiring
This is why HAB is central to the higher tiers — it accelerates clarity and ensures your next step truly fits.
Is HAB Right for You?
HAB is ideal if you:
feel stuck between several career options
struggle to articulate your strengths
want to avoid repeating past career patterns
want objective insight, not guesswork
want confidence that your next move is the right move
are considering self-employment and want to understand your natural fit
If you’re ready for deeper self-knowledge and clearer direction, HAB offers exactly that.
Next Steps (from January 2026)
👉 Explore the FULFIL™ Programme (Plus & Complete tiers include HAB)
👉 Book a free introductory call to discuss whether HAB is right for you
I’d be delighted to help you uncover the clarity and direction you’ve been looking for.
About Diana
I’m an Accredited Master Coach, Coaching Psychologist and certified HAB practitioner with over 20 years’ experience helping experienced professionals and executives create meaningful, fulfilling careers. My approach blends evidence-based psychology, practical tools and compassionate guidance.
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