We have a brilliant new VP of Marketing, but she is constantly clashing with our systematic VP of Operations. How can I use conative profiles like the Kolbe Index to resolve this friction?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

This friction is rarely personal, it is almost always conative. Your VP of Marketing likely has a high Quick Start score on the Kolbe A Index, meaning she naturally thrives on experimentation, rapid changes, and testing new ideas on the fly. Your VP of Operations probably has a high Follow Through score, meaning his instinct is to design, maintain, and protect systematic processes. When they clash, they are both trying to solve problems using their natural, instinctive methods, which feel diametrically opposed. To resolve this, bring both leaders together and draw their Kolbe profiles on a whiteboard. Show them how their cognitive and affective styles are compatible, but their conative styles, the way they actually do work, are different. Help them see that these differences are actually complementary. The VP of Marketing needs the VP of Operations to build systems that scale her creative ideas, and the VP of Operations needs the VP of Marketing to keep the company from stagnating. Once they understand each other's instinctive modes, they can stop taking the friction personally and start using their unique strengths to collaborate effectively during your weekly Level 10 Meeting.