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“Our staff meetings absolutely drive me crazy."

​“Why can't Jane just take my directions and execute?"

​“I don't understand why client A won't respond to my emails."​

​Sound familiar? I've been there, and I've heard these frustrations countless times from agency owners. Early in my career, I shared those same thoughts. I expected everyone to operate the way I did—efficiently, with a clear action plan, ready to execute. And that client who never replied to my detailed emails? It turned out they weren't ignoring me; they just wanted the executive summary while I was sending them the encyclopedia.

It wasn't until I discovered the power of strengths assessments that I realized the real issue: Not everyone thinks, feels, or acts the same way I do. And that's a good thing. Understanding this was a game-changer, both for my leadership approach and for how I helped my clients build stronger, more effective teams.

This realization is where tools like the Kolbe A™ Index and CliftonStrengths come into play. They allow us to see the whole person—to understand not just their skills and personality but how they instinctively take action. Let me share how these tools have shaped my journey and how they can transform yours.

The Power of Knowing Yourself

Self-awareness is the foundation of growth and effective leadership. Over the years, I've come to appreciate the transformative power of strengths assessments in unlocking potential. My own journey of self-discovery began with the CliftonStrengths assessment, which revealed my top five strengths: Individualization, Achiever, Analytical, Responsibility, and Discipline.

Understanding these strengths gave me clarity about how I operate, helping me build stronger relationships and work more effectively. Individualization, for example, allows me to recognize and appreciate the unique qualities in each person I encounter. This strength is invaluable in my consulting work, where tailoring my approach to each client's specific needs has been key to building deeper, more meaningful partnerships.

My Achiever strength fuels my productivity, helping me set and reach ambitious goals, while Analytical allows me to think critically and examine problems from multiple angles. Rounding out my top five, Responsibility and Discipline reflect my commitment to reliability and maintaining a structured approach to work.

But as powerful as CliftonStrengths is in understanding how we relate to the world, it only tells part of the story. That's where the Kolbe A™ Index comes in.

Beyond CliftonStrengths: The Kolbe A™ Index

While CliftonStrengths reveals our cognitive and affective strengths—how we think and feel—the Kolbe A™ Index measures our conative strengths, or how we naturally take action. This assessment helps us understand the instinctive ways we operate when we are free to be ourselves.

For me, the Kolbe A Index reinforced much of what I learned through CliftonStrengths. My high score in Fact Finder aligns perfectly with my Analytical strength, reflecting my natural tendency to gather and evaluate information before making decisions. Kolbe also helped me recognize that while I excel in research and critical thinking, I must be mindful of potential analysis paralysis. Knowing this allows me to balance my approach and take action when it's needed most.

Why This Matters for Your Team

These tools are not just about personal growth—they're about building stronger, more effective teams. Whether you're hiring a new team member or developing the talent you already have, understanding the whole person can dramatically improve how your agency operates.

Hiring with Confidence: When you're hiring, traditional methods often fall short. You can find candidates with the right skills (cognitive strengths) and cultural fit (affective strengths), but that doesn't guarantee success. The missing piece is understanding how someone will naturally take action—and that's where Kolbe provides critical insight.

For example, if you're hiring for a role that requires consistent systems management, you need someone with strong Follow Thru capabilities. Hiring someone who thrives in chaos and improvisation (a Quick Start strength) could set them up for failure, even if they have the right skills and personality. Using assessments like Kolbe during the hiring process allows you to find people whose natural strengths align with the job's requirements, reducing turnover and ensuring long-term success.

Developing Your Existing Team: The benefits don't stop with hiring. Once you have a team in place, understanding each person's strengths helps you develop them in ways that increase engagement and productivity. Take a producer who excels in Quick Start but has been tasked with repetitive administrative work—over time, they'll burn out. Realigning their role to focus on high-risk, fast-paced activities can reignite their engagement and boost performance.

In my own consulting practice, I've seen how aligning employees' roles with their strengths not only increases satisfaction but also drives business results. Whether it's tailoring communication styles or shifting responsibilities to better match natural strengths, these small adjustments can lead to significant improvements.

The Importance of Strengths-Based Leadership

Running a strengths-based business isn't about fixing people's weaknesses—it's about playing to their natural abilities. When you understand the whole person, you can put people in roles where they will not only succeed but thrive.

Using both CliftonStrengths and Kolbe A Index together provides a complete picture:

CliftonStrengths helps you understand what motivates your employees, what energizes them, and how they build relationships.

Kolbe A Index tells you how they instinctively take action, whether they're natural problem-solvers, system-builders, or hands-on implementors.

Together, these tools allow you to build a team that is not only capable but perfectly aligned with your agency's goals.

In fact, research shows that businesses that focus on strengths experience higher engagement, better performance, and lower turnover. When your employees are doing work that aligns with their strengths, they're more productive and engaged, and your business benefits from their higher energy and focus.

My Personal Experience: Applying Strengths in Practice

The power of strengths-based leadership has transformed how I approach my own work. For example, my Achiever strength keeps me focused on setting and reaching goals, while my Analytical and Fact Finder strengths ensure that I approach problems systematically and consider all angles. My Individualization allows me to tailor my communication to each person, and Responsibility and Discipline ensure I meet deadlines and maintain high standards.

This approach has not only helped me grow as a consultant but also made a tangible impact on the clients I work with. When agency leaders understand their own strengths and those of their teams, they can delegate more effectively, improve collaboration, and ultimately drive better results.

Conclusion: The Whole Person, The Whole Business

In today's fast-paced, competitive environment, understanding the whole person is essential to building a successful, strengths-based business. By leveraging the CliftonStrengths and Kolbe A Index, you can gain a deeper understanding of your team, align them with the right roles, and create an environment where everyone thrives.

As I've seen firsthand in my work with insurance agencies, investing in strengths assessments isn't just about hiring the right people—it's about developing a team that is fully engaged, highly productive, and capable of driving your business forward.

If you're ready to harness the power of Kolbe and CliftonStrengths to build a strengths-based business, I'm here to guide you. Reach out to me at BIGiOK Consulting to discover how we can work together to unlock the full potential of your team. Let's start your journey toward greater engagement, productivity, and success.

Contact me today at sara@bigiok.com to take the first step in transforming your team with a strengths-based approach!​

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