I was sitting at a presentation at the Podstock conference in Wichita, and Alan Beam, a principal and fellow attendee, leaned over to me, and said, "Some of these presentations must drive you crazy. You're obviously a planner and information gatherer, and most of these presentations are being given by simplifiers and doers."
It turns out that Alan had his team go through the Kolbe assessment, which helps individuals maximize their talents, and teams understand how to work together.
We had a quick conversation, where Alan confided that he was a person who tended to jump into things, and that he hated to follow rules; two traits not often found in educators. He was having his staff take the test so that they could all learn how to make the changes together that would improve the school.
I decided that I'd take the Kolbe test myself, but also decided to take the Strengths Finder test as well. Strengths Finder had been recommended to me by George Johnson of TEL.A.VISION. Little did I know that both tests would show that this type of behavior is typical for people like me.
The Kolbe Instrument
The Kolbe Instrument costs about $50, takes about 20 minutes to complete, and then it takes another half hour to digest the results.
Kolbe analyzes you according to four modes of operations (MO):
- Fact Finder: to what extent do you act based on simple summary information or look to gather more information and detail before you act?
- Follow through: to what extent do you look for rules and guidelines, and to what extent do you look at each situation as new or unique?
- Quick Start: to what extent do you take risks, and to what extent do you wait until the right path is clear?
- Implementor: to what extent do you analyze and plan before acting, and to what extent do you act quickly.
Kolbe places you in one of three groups for each MO, do you lean to either one of the two extremes, or are you in the middle? It said that I tend to gather information, am flexible in deciding whether to take a risk or stay with what is familiar, am flexible about whether to follow rules or devise new ones, and tend to plan and analyze instead of jump to immediate action.
As one who gathers information and plans and analyzes, is it any wonder that I would take both suggestions and try each test?
Here is the chart for me:
In Fact Finding, I tend to research, establish priorities, define objectives, and assess probabilities, and I present information comprehensively (just like now). It also means I do not jump to conclusions, and I have a hard time giving yes or no answers (as anyone who knows me will testify to).
In Follow Thru, the instrument says I coordinate schedules, can react to changes, draft guidelines, identify inconsistencies, and take notes, and can relate to both those who multi-task and quickly seek shortcuts, as well as those who are very structured. I can build systems, but I can also see when they don't apply and adapt. I don't like to give guarantees I may not be able to meet.
In Quick Start, I'm willing to try out new ideas, but not just because they are new, only when I think they are better. I often come up with metaphors and tend to reduce risks, and I can mediate between those who want to try something new and those who want to stick with what's worked before. I like challenges and tend to take calculated risks, but do not like too many changes at once or too many competing deadlines.
As in Implementor, I'm strong on conceptualizing solutions and imagining future results, I can create temporary fixes and deal with abstractions. I do not need to touch something or see a 3D model of it to know it's there or possible. As I just told my wife, this means I'm not the one who should be mowing the lawn, fixing up the house, or washing the dishes (although I didn't quite get the response I wanted from this statement.)
The instrument says I tend to be critical of ideas or plans that lack depth, resemble something that did now work in the past, or are not fully developed, and that I might get upset than when people do not meet their commitments.
In summary, it says that I am excellent at coming up with unique strategies, prioritizing opportunities, and dealing with the unknowns in complex problems. According to Kolbe, I am the go-to person when elaborate projects are in trouble.
My biggest concern with this instrument is not knowing if the descriptions relate to my specific results, or whether they apply to anyone who was in my triad. For example, did I get the same feedback from my 7 in Fact Finding as someone who scored a 10? I'm closer to a 6 than a 10, and it's a little arbitrary that 4-6 is considered in the middle triad instead of 4-7. I would think that a 7 would tend to get a lot of information to make decisions, and that a 10 might be paralyzed, never acting because of concerns of not having enough data. But did the assessment give the same description for both? I just don't know.
Strengths Finder
The Strengths Finder is run by the Gallup organization. Similarly to the Kolbe instrument, it's goal is to help you find what you are good at, so that you can accomplish more. The Strengths Finder asks about 170 questions to determine which of 35 common traits most resemble you, and then describes how they apply to you.
The Strengths Finder costs about $25, along with the Strengths Finder book.
My five traits are Learner, Individualization, Achiever, Arranger, and Strategic.
As a Learner, I persevere until I have the knowledge and skills to attain a goal (not that different from the Fact Finder profile from the Kolbe instrument). I tend to concentrate for extended periods of time.
A person with Individualization tends to look at the unique qualities of each person, and can figure out how people who are different can work together productively. I help people with their jobs so that they can finish them at or before they are due (or, as my kids say, I can be a nag). I am driven to assist others with advice or support, and I can often figure out how each person can benefit the group.
Achievers have stamina and work hard. Combines with Individualization, I can be a good advisor to people, offering suggestions and asking questions. I like challenging situations, and am willing to step out of my comfort zone, devoting my full attention to the challenge o accomplish a goal.
Arrangers are good at organizing, and are flexible (not that different from what the Kolbe said). I like goals, and like to be held accountable (and hold myself accountable) for reaching them. I like to work with individuals who know the difference between right and wrong, and tend to distance myself from those I think lack this clarity. Even though I often notice when mistakes are being made and accuracy is being sacrificed, I tend to trust my team mates and tend to resist the temptation to push others aside.
Strategic people create alternate ways to proceed, and are good at spotting patterns and relevant issues. I often identify problems, and different solutions to the problem, before others see them. Piecing together patterns of cause and effect allows me to propose alternate routes to a goal. I am most stimulated when I collaborate as part of a team, although I may appear impatient when others do not see the issues or solutions quickly.
The Strengths Finder suggested that I seek out opportunities to teach or present to others, to be a catalyst for change, look for roles that require broad technical competence, look for new situations that require someone to develop a skill quickly, and to work in an area of continuous changing technologies or regulations.
Summary
All in all, the two tests agreed much more than they disagreed:
- I like to learn, and then use that knowledge or skill to achieve goals as part of a team.
- I am generally good at creating and planning, but also good at adapting to changes.
- I don't mind the unknown, but I'm not one to rush into something new without assessing the risks and devising some plan and metrics.
- I value and seek diversity of cultures, opinions, and aptitudes.
- I hate not meeting deadlines or goals, and when someone says they are going to do something, I expect them to do it or let me know in advance.
I'd love some feedback about whether this represents me, and I'd love to hear about others' results with either of these tests.
And one more thing. I loved the presentations at Podstock.