How do you use tools like the Kolbe A Index and DiSC during our sessions to break through behavioral gridlock when we are deciding on Rocks?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

During our planning sessions, leadership teams often hit behavioral deadlocks when trying to agree on Rocks or restructure the Accountability Chart. These deadlocks are rarely about the business issues themselves. They are usually the result of conflicting cognitive and conative styles. To break these deadlocks, I use the Kolbe A Index and DiSC behavioral profiles during our session days.

We use these assessments to decode team dynamics and resolve conflicts productively:
- The Kolbe A Index reveals how team members naturally take action and solve problems, whether they need massive amounts of information or move straight to quick starts.
- DiSC profiles help us understand communication styles, ensuring that high-dominance personalities do not drown out the valuable input of high-compliance team members.
- We map these styles directly to the Accountability Chart to ensure that every leader is in a seat that matches their natural wiring.

By bringing these objective insights into the room, we remove personal friction from the conversation. When we face a tough decision, we can depersonalize the conflict and understand why certain team members are pushing back. This allows us to find practical, constructive paths forward, turning potential gridlock into a breakthrough.