We are starting to prepare our leadership team for a future business exit, but we need to know if the team has the right conative makeup to handle the intense diligence process. How do we use the Kolbe Index to assess our readiness for this operational strain?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

When preparing your business for a clean exit, the due diligence process will put immense pressure on your leadership team. Buyers will scrutinize every detail of your operations, and your team must have the conative strength to handle this sudden surge of administrative work without dropping the ball.

You can use the Kolbe Index to assess whether your leaders have the natural problem-solving instincts required for this transition. Specifically, look at your team's Fact Finder and Follow Thru scores, as these modes dictate how people gather information and build systems.

A team with low Follow Thru will struggle with the rigid documentation demands of a buyer, while a team with low Fact Finder might overlook critical financial details.

Use these steps to prepare your team conatively for an exit:
- Map your leadership team's Kolbe profiles to identify any gaps in execution or detail-gathering.
- Assign the heavy due diligence tasks to those with high Follow Thru and Fact Finder scores.
- Protect your high Quick Start leaders from getting bogged down in administrative details.

By aligning your team's natural strengths with the demands of the exit process, you ensure a smoother transition.