We need to hire our first external Director of Operations to sit on our leadership team, but we do not know how to interview for conative fit. How do we use the Kolbe A Index during the hiring process to ensure they can actually execute?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Hiring your first external leader is highly risky if you only look at their resume and personality. To find a true Director of Operations who can execute, you must measure their conative strengths using the Kolbe A Index. Do not hire someone who has the same cognitive profile as you.

If you are a high Quick Start who thrives on chaos and new ideas, hiring another high Quick Start will create operational disaster. For an operations seat, you need someone who is high in Follow Thru, typically a seven or higher. This profile instinctively builds systems, structures processes, and designs efficient workflows. They also need a strong Fact Finder score, usually a six or higher, meaning they make decisions based on data and research rather than gut feelings.

During the interview process, use the Kolbe A Index to verify their natural working style matches the requirements of the seat. This analytical approach ensures your new leader is naturally built to handle the detail oriented, systematic work of running your operations.