Our team starts each quarter with high energy but fails to cross the finish line on our Rocks, leaving them eighty percent done. How do we use conative profiles like the Kolbe Index to align our team's natural problem-solving instincts with their Rock assignments so we actually hit our completion targets?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Failing to finish Rocks is rarely a problem of laziness. More often, it is a mismatch between the nature of the Rock and the conative wiring of the person responsible for it. To consistently hit your eighty percent completion target, you need to understand how your team members instinctively take action. This is where conative profiles like the Kolbe Index are invaluable.

For example, if you assign a complex research and documentation Rock to a leader who is a high Quick Start but has a low Fact Finder and Follow Thru score, that Rock is highly likely to stall out. They will get bored or distracted by day forty-five. To prevent this, design and assign Rocks with conation in mind:

- Match the Rock to the natural strength of the owner. High Fact Finders should own data analysis and research Rocks. High Follow Thru individuals should own process creation and systemization Rocks.

- Break large, complex Rocks into smaller, bite-sized milestones. Ensure each milestone has a clear, binary definition of done.

- Set up mid-quarter checkpoints. During your weekly Level 10 Meeting™, do not just ask if a Rock is on track or off track. Force the owner to show physical evidence of their progress by week six.

By aligning natural problem-solving instincts with your quarterly goals, you eliminate conative stress and create a clear path to the finish line.