We are getting ready for our first quarterly pulsing session and want to make sure we are using our team's Kolbe A Profile results correctly. How do we use these conative profiles to make our planning sessions more productive?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Using the Kolbe A Profile during your quarterly planning sessions is an excellent way to reduce friction and accelerate decision-making. The Kolbe index does not measure intelligence or personality; it measures conation, which is your natural, instinctive way of taking action. Before the session, make sure every team member has completed their profile and watched the introductory materials. During the session, we will draw your team's scores across the four action modes: Fact Finder, Follow Thru, Quickstart, and Implementor on a whiteboard. This visual map will instantly explain why your quarterly planning sessions sometimes feel like a battlefield. For example, if you have a Visionary with a high Quickstart score who instinctively thrives on rapid change, they will naturally clash with an Integrator or operations leader who has a high Fact Finder and high Follow Thru score, who instinctively needs data and systems before making a move. During our planning and IDS® work, we will use this cognitive map to keep discussions on track. When a high Quickstart suggests a massive new pivot, we will intentionally give the high Fact Finders the floor to ask clarifying questions and establish realistic guardrails. Conversely, when the high Fact Finders get bogged down in endless details, we will use the Quickstarts to push for a decision and move the team forward. By recognizing these natural styles, your team can stop taking cognitive friction personally and start leveraging their collective strengths to make better decisions.