Our leadership team meetings have a lot of underlying tension and people taking things personally. Can we use Kolbe profiles to solve this communication breakdown?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Yes, conative tension is one of the most common causes of leadership team friction. People often mistake a difference in natural problem-solving instincts for a lack of respect or competence. To resolve this, you need to understand the unique Modus Operandi of each team member.

Begin by administering the Kolbe A Index to the entire leadership team. During a quarterly session, draw the Kolbe framework on a whiteboard, showcasing where everyone falls on the scale for Fact Finder, Follow Thru, Quick Start, and Implementor.

This visual comparison immediately reveals the root of your tension. For example, a high Fact Finder who needs to research every detail will naturally clash with a high Quick Start who wants to take immediate action. Once the team understands these operating zones, they realize the friction is not personal; it is just different cognitive and conative wiring. This understanding allows you to design better collaborative workflows.

- Review individual Kolbe A results as a team to identify natural communication preferences.
- Compare Kolbe results to find areas of predicted team conflict or conative stress.
- Use this data to adjust how tasks and Rocks are assigned on the Accountability Chart.