Can You Really Measure A Person's Mental Toughness?

When people hear the phrase “mental toughness,” they often think it’s a mysterious, unmeasurable, abstract trait, something you either have or you don’t. But mental toughness can not only be developed, it can actually be measured. And that’s exactly what the Mental Toughness Questionnaire (MTQ) from AQR International does so brilliantly.

As someone who speaks to organisations every week about resilience, performance, and mindset, I know you simply can’t improve what you can’t measure. The MTQ assessment gives leaders and teams a clear, evidence-based starting point for personal and team growth. And that’s powerful.

What Exactly Is the MTQ?

The MTQ is a psychometric tool developed by Professor Peter Clough and Doug Strycharczyk, the thought leaders in mental toughness research. It’s based on the 4Cs framework:

• Control Life Control and Emotional Control
• Commitment Goal Orientation and Delivery
• Challenge Risk and Learning Orientation
• Confidence Self-Belief and Interpersonal Confidence

These are the key components that determine how well someone handles pressure, change, stress, setbacks, and opportunity.

The MTQ measures each of these elements, providing a detailed, highly reliable profile of an individual’s mental toughness. It’s like running a “mindset audit”, and the insights are often game-changing.

How Does It Work?

The MTQ is delivered as an online questionnaire, usually taking around 10-15 minutes to complete. It’s accessible, quick, and doesn’t feel intimidating.

Behind the scenes, though, it’s robust. The questions are carefully designed and validated to reveal how people think, feel, and behave under pressure. The results, taken form a moment in time, are then presented in a clear, structured 15 page report that breaks down your scores across the 4Cs, showing both strengths and areas for development.

For example:

• You might discover you’re strong in Commitment (you always follow through) but struggle with Emotional Control (stress gets to you more than you’d like)
• Or you could find that your Confidence in Abilities is high, but your Interpersonal Confidence needs work (you hold back in meetings or sales conversations)

The point isn’t to judge, it’s to give you clarity. Once you can see the detail, you can do something about it.

Why Is It So Useful?

What makes the MTQ so powerful is its practicality. It’s not just an interesting read, it’s a development tool.

• For individuals, it gives self-awareness. It highlights why you react the way you do under pressure, where you might hold yourself back, and how to strengthen your mental game.
• For leaders, it’s gold. Imagine knowing exactly how your team will cope with change, who thrives on challenge, and who needs support. You can tailor development plans, coaching, and roles based on real data.
• For organisations, it becomes a strategic asset. Recruitment, leadership pipelines, cultural change - the MTQ adds clarity. You’re not guessing who will cope; you know.

And unlike many personality tests, the MTQ measures something trainable. It’s not about labelling people; it’s about identifying potential and building it.

Is It Reliable?

Yes. The MTQ has been extensively researched and validated, and it’s used worldwide across industries from sport to education to corporate leadership. Its psychometric properties meet rigorous standards, and it’s updated as research evolves.

In other words, it’s not a gimmick. It’s credible science that’s been applied in real-world settings for years.

The Insight That Drives Change

One of the most powerful things about the MTQ is the conversations it sparks. When I work with clients, it's the lightbulb moments that are often the turning point:

• The senior exec who suddenly understood why she always doubted herself despite her achievements
• The sales leader who realised he avoided challenging conversations because of low interpersonal confidence
• The young manager who learned that stress didn’t mean weakness - it was simply an opportunity to strengthen emotional control.

Data gives people permission to grow.

Mental toughness isn’t reserved for elite athletes or extreme adventurers. It’s the foundation of everyday performance. If you’re serious about building it - for yourself, your team, or your whole organisation - start by understanding where you are now.

The MTQ assessment doesn’t just tell you who you are; it shows you who you could become. And that’s where real growth begins.

Want to know more about how the MTQ could work for you or your business? Get in touch and I’ll walk you through how we use it to create tailored coaching, training, and keynote sessions that transform results.

Penny Mallory is accredited by AQR International to use the MTQ assessment and deliver feedback to clients