Powered by Instinct – Details, episodes & analysis

Everyone has natural ways in which they take action. These are measured in four areas — Fact Finder, Follow Thru, Quick Start, and Implementor — called Kolbe Action Modes®. 

In this fourth and final episode of our Kolbe Action Mode series, Kolbe experts Stephanie Clergé, Eric Herrera, and Nicole Loucks break down the Implementor Action Mode and discuss the different strengths within it: envisioning, restoring, and demonstrating. 

Our Kolbe experts will take you through what it means to have these different Implementor strengths as they address common misconceptions, break down how to work with people across the Implementor spectrum, and explain how you can maximize your Implementor strength for more productivity, better communication, and improved collaboration.  

It’s time to implement your instincts as you learn more about that yellow line in your Kolbe result! 

Hosts:   

💡 Names: Stephanie Clergé (8363), Eric Herrera (5392), and Nicole Loucks (5824)

💡What they do: 

Stephanie is Kolbe’s VP of People and Product Development.  

Eric is Kolbe’s VP of Growth and Strategic Alliances.  

Nicole is Kolbe’s Director of Training, as well as VP of Education and Youth Programs.  

💡Company: Kolbe Corp  

💡 Where to find them: Kolbe.com  
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieclerge/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericherrera5392/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-loucks-64279058/

Takeaways   

The Kolbe Action Mode Implementor measures how individuals naturally take action when striving, focusing on how they handle space and tangibles. 

Individuals with strengths in the Implementor Action Mode exhibit varying levels of envisioning, restoring and demonstrating, impacting their approach to handling space and tangibles. 

Effective coaching and communication strategies are essential for supporting individuals with different strengths in the Implementor Action Mode, both in professional and educational settings. Embrace and leverage your natural strengths rather than conforming to arbitrary expectations. 

Understanding the interdependence of different strengths is crucial for problem-solving and achieving optimal outcomes. 

Key Quotes   

“Individuals with a 7-10 in Implementor really solve problems by being hands on. They show, they don't tell. They're going to use quality materials and tools to build or create something tangible. So when they're solving problems, they're really going to look for those physical or tangible solutions and create them.” 

“We were actually having a conversation before we started the podcast, and one of our colleagues said he used to work with someone, they called him the walking email because he would get up, walk down to your office and go have a conversation. That was how he used that energy to get out and interact.” 

“When my wife says, ‘Hey, Eric, can you fix X?’, I find all kinds of excuses to put it off. I can do it and I can muddle my way through it, but it's frustrating the entire time. I would rather kind of see the vision of this is what is, this is how amazing it's going to be when it's done.” 

Chapters

02:54
The Three Strengths of the Implementor Action Mode

06:00
Coaching Strategies for Demonstrators

11:59
Envisioners: Abstract Problem Solving

19:12
Restorers: Balancing Abstract and Concrete

24:48
Navigating Strengths in Diverse Environments

31:04
Debunking Misconceptions About Implementors

***
Find the freedom to be yourself by taking the Kolbe A™ Index or The Student Aptitude Quiz for the youth in your life.

Everyone has natural ways in which they take action. These are measured in four areas — Fact Finder, Follow Thru, Quick Start, and Implementor — called Kolbe Action Modes®. 

In this third episode of our Kolbe Action Mode series, Kolbe experts Stephanie Clergé, Eric Herrera, and Nicole Loucks break down the Quick Start Action Mode and discuss the different strengths within it, such as stabilizing, modifying and innovating. 

Whether you naturally initiate change and improvise solutions (like Eric), participate in experiments and adjust deadlines (like Stephanie), or minimize risk factors and protect the status quo (like Nicole), you’ll get to hear amazing coaching tips from an expert who shares your strengths in the Quick Start Action Mode! 

The hosts address common misconceptions, break down how to work with people across the Quick Start spectrum, and explain how you can maximize your Quick Start strength for more productivity, better communication, and improved collaboration.  

Get your week off to a Quick Start by learning about your strengths in the oh-so-important green Action Mode! 

Hosts:   

💡 Names: Stephanie Clergé (8363), Eric Herrera (5392), and Nicole Loucks (5824)

💡What they do: 

 Stephanie is Kolbe’s VP of People and Product Development.  

 Eric is Kolbe’s VP of Sales.  

 Nicole is Kolbe’s Director of Training, as well as VP of Education and Youth Programs.  

💡Company: Kolbe Corp  

💡 Where to find them: Kolbe.com  

Takeaways   

The Kolbe Action Mode Quick Start measures how individuals naturally take action when striving, focusing on how they deal with risk and uncertainty. 

Effective coaching and communication strategies are essential for supporting individuals with different strengths in the Quick Start Action Mode, both in professional and educational settings. Embrace and leverage your natural strengths rather than conforming to arbitrary expectations. 

Recognize and utilize the diverse strengths of team members for effective collaboration. 

Understanding the interdependence of different strengths is crucial for problem-solving and achieving optimal outcomes. 

Key Quotes   

 “If I could coach someone with the 7-10 in Quick Start, I’d tell them to condense all your timeframes with everything you do. You'll get the best work from yourself out of that.” 

“How you communicate changes is just as important as the change itself sometimes.” 

“As a 6 in Quick Start, I also have ideas. It's just that my ideas sometimes come from different places, and I need a starting point. So, it's great if there's a theme or  you give me your idea, and then I can kind of get those ideas flowing pretty well.” 

“We see a lot of owners who are the only 7-10 in QS and the whole rest of the team is like a 1,2 or 3. And then they end up driving their entire team crazy because they're constantly firing off ideas. And so it's great to be self-aware and understand your strengths, and also realize you need people in all three of the zones.” 

Chapters 

00:00
Introduction to the Quick Start Action Mode

07:37
Understanding the Strengths within Quick Start

12:18
Coaching and Communicating with Quick Start Strengths

16:23
Collaborating with Different Quick Start Strengths

25:58
Misconceptions and Biases about Quick Start

31:21
The Importance of Considering All Four Strengths

***
Find the freedom to be yourself by taking the Kolbe A™ Index or The Student Aptitude Quiz for the youth in your life.

When Kari Gillenwater first integrated Kolbe into her practice, she had no idea the level of impact it would have for her clients. In this episode, Kari shares how discovering her Kolbe strengths has improved both her life and her business. She explains how she uses Kolbe to help top business owners build teams and empower their employees. She also offers advice for coaches and consultants looking to incorporate Kolbe into their practice at the highest levels.  

If you’re a consultant or coach looking to make a bigger impact on your clients’ businesses and lives, then this is a must-listen. If you’re simply interested in how to improve your own life and work through better understanding your strengths, this is also a can’t-miss episode! 

Host: Eric Herrera (5392)

Guest-at-a-Glance 

💡 Name: Kari Gillenwater (6482)

💡What they do: Founder and CEO of a successful financial services and insurance consulting firm, Kari is known for her extensive work with business owners helping them to accelerate their businesses, their brands and their teams. A coach and certified Kolbe™ consultant and Team Specialist, she specializes in helping business owners find right-fit talent, improve personal productivity, team performance and communication. 

💡Company: Gillenwater Consulting Group 

💡 Where to find them: LinkedIn 

Takeaways 

• Understanding and embracing your Kolbe strengths™ can have a significant impact on your life and business. 
• Kolbe can be used to build teams and empower employees in a way that aligns with their unique strengths. 
• Communication and understanding each other's Kolbe strengths is crucial for effective teamwork and collaboration. 
• Kolbe can be powerful for coaches and consultants to help their clients find their voice, align with their strengths, and achieve their goals. Self-reflection is essential for personal growth and development. 
• Understanding personal values helps guide decision-making and prioritization. 
• Identifying strengths and weaknesses allows for targeted self-improvement. 
• Setting goals and taking action is crucial for progress and achievement. 
• Self-awareness enhances relationships and leads to a more fulfilling life. 

Chapters 

00:00 Introduction and Background 

02:30 The Importance of Self-Reflection 

03:40 Understanding and Embracing Kolbe 

09:16 Using Kolbe in Business Coaching 

10:45 Understanding Personal Values 

17:28 Working with Individuals and Teams 

20:15 Identifying Strengths and Weaknesses 

28:12 Client Success Story 

30:00 Setting Goals and Taking Action 

36:00 Advice for Coaches and Consultants 

40:00 The Power of Self-Awareness 

41:14 Connecting with Kari Gillenwater 

43:04 Closing Remarks 

***
Find the freedom to be yourself by taking the Kolbe A™ Index or The Student Aptitude Quiz for the youth in your life.

 “Technology can only do so much. At the end of the day, it’s people who need to use that technology.”  - James Robert Lay 

 Season 4 of Powered by Instinct kicks off with a look at the importance of human relationships when dealing with complicated industries like finance and technology. In this episode, host Eric Herrera explores the intersection of human behavior and digital finance with James Robert Lay and Audrey Cannata from the Digital Growth Institute.  

James Robert emphasizes the importance of people in leveraging technology for financial growth, while Audrey shares her transition from teaching to digital finance and the critical role understanding her instinctive strengths played in that journey. 

They also delve into the dynamics at play in key working relationships, how to form a dynamic duo with someone who has very different natural strengths, and how Digital Growth uses Kolbe both to cater to their clients’ strengths and to help financial brands level up their digital growth process. 

Host: Eric Herrera (5392)

 Guests-at-a-Glance

💡 Names: James Robert Lay (3294); Audrey Cannata  (6734)

💡What they do: Founder and CEO; Operations Lead  

💡Company: Digital Growth Institute  

💡Noteworthy: James Robert is focused on inspiring human transformation in marketing and sales teams within financial brands, aiming to elevate their loan and deposit growth​; Audrey collaborates with James Robert at Digital Growth Institute, contributing to research and coaching that facilitate human transformation in the financial sector.  

💡 Where to find them: James Robert: LinkedIn; Audrey Cannata: LinkedIn  

Embracing Transparency and Honesty in Team Dynamics  

Audrey highlights the importance of transparency and honesty in team dynamics. She describes how their team practices radical honesty, allowing them to openly communicate their energy levels and adjust plans accordingly. This approach fosters a more understanding and effective work environment.  

"That allows us to be just really radically honest and transparent with each other [...] I can tell that to James Robert and vice versa. He can tell me, ‘Audrey, I am spent. Can we like pause on this meeting, or can we adjust our plans?’"  

Adapting to Unforeseen Challenges  

James Robert shares a practical example of adapting to unforeseen challenges. He recounts his experience of having a book launch disrupted by the pandemic and how he pivoted his approach. His story illustrates the importance of resilience and flexibility in the face of unexpected circumstances.  
  

"I wrote a book, Eric, that was scheduled to be published in April of 2020 [...] all of the conferences that I was supposed to be going to speak at, to do a launch tour, they all literally got shut down within two to three weeks."  

The Personal Impact of Kolbe  

Audrey speaks about the personal and transformative impact Kolbe has had on her life. She expresses gratitude for the self-awareness and growth that Kolbe has enabled, both professionally and personally, and shares her enthusiasm for being part of the Kolbe community.  

"I truly believe that Kolbe is such a gift, and it is such a gift to know thyself [...] It's been personally very transformative for me. And I just appreciate being able to continuously share this with those in our community and members and even people in my personal life."  

***
Find the freedom to be yourself by taking the Kolbe A™ Index or The Student Aptitude Quiz for the youth in your life.

Kolbe Corp annually honors the organizations that display exceptional creativity and leadership when it comes to the use of conation and Kolbe Wisdom™. The award honoring organizational leadership in building conative excellence, called the Kolbe Enterprise Award, is our way of signaling that a strengths-based business is doing incredible work using their knowledge of instinctive strengths and application of that knowledge. 

In this episode of Powered by Instinct, host Toby Phillips engages with Kolbe Certified™ Consultants representing two of the finalists for the Kolbe Enterprise Award and dives into the integration of the Kolbe System™ within their organizations. The episode features insightful conversations with Shara Wokal and Clare Willson from Riff Creative, along with Hillary Snyder from Riverstone Communities. They all discuss their experiences and strategies in implementing the Kolbe principles for organizational development and team building, the impact Kolbe has had within throughout their organization and for their clients, and where they see their future with Kolbe. 

If you’re interested in learning what Kolbe can do for your organization and how you can be a part of it, this episode is an invaluable resource with a ton of practical ideas to help take your business to the next level. 

Host: Toby Phillips (7464)

Guest-at-a-Glance 

💡 Guests: Shara Wokal (8771); Clare Willson (9234); Hillary Snyder (7634)

💡Companies: Riff_; Riverstone Communities 

💡Noteworthy: Shara Wokal: Chief Financial Officer and Chief HR Officer at Riff Creative; 

Clare Willson: Executive Coach and Team Strategist at Riff Creative; Hillary Snyder: Chief Human Resources Officer at Riverstone Communities, Kolbe Certified Consultant since 2019. 

💡Where to find: Shara: LinkedIn; Clare: LinkedIn; Hillary: LinkedIn  

Embracing Team Diversity Through Kolbe Wisdom™: 

Organizations use the Kolbe System™ to embrace and leverage the diverse strengths within a team. Clare Willson speaks about Riff Creative's journey with Kolbe, emphasizing how Kolbe Wisdom has been integral to building their team and company culture. This approach has enabled them to appreciate varied problem-solving methods and foster a deep respect for each team member's unique contributions. The insight here is the value of understanding and utilizing diverse talents within a team for enhanced collaboration and productivity. 

Kolbe's Role in Building Trust and Mutual Respect: 

 Trivial incidents, like a misplaced bottle of Windex, can be opportunities to build trust and mutual respect in a team. Shara Wokal shares an anecdote about how such an incident led to a better understanding of team dynamics and preferences. This example underlines how seemingly minor events can reinforce team cohesion and understanding when viewed through the lens of Kolbe's principles. It shows the importance of nurturing a team culture that values every member's perspective and approach to problem-solving. 

Operational Efficiency Through Understanding Team Dynamics: 

 Hillary Snyder discusses how Kolbe has been instrumental in improving operational efficiency. By fostering a deeper understanding of team dynamics, Kolbe has enabled them to handle challenges more effectively and maintain a high level of c

***
Find the freedom to be yourself by taking the Kolbe A™ Index or The Student Aptitude Quiz for the youth in your life.

Action Starters are a series of shorts from the Powered by Instinct podcast. These are bite-sized clips with easily accessible knowledge for you to enjoy.

This clip comes from David Kolbe’s interview with EOS® Worldwide Visionary Mark O’Donnell back in season 1.

It’s a great recap on why Kolbe and EOS work so well together, and delivers insight into how you can incorporate both into your company culture.

"Kolbe helps you make a big leap in team health in less than an hour’s worth of time.” – Mark O’Donnell

***
Find the freedom to be yourself by taking the Kolbe A™ Index or The Student Aptitude Quiz for the youth in your life.

Every year, Kolbe Corp honors the individuals who display exceptional creativity and leadership when it comes to the use of conation and Kolbe Wisdom™. The award honoring individual leadership in building conative excellence, called the Kolbe Professional Award, is always hotly contested due to the wealth of incredible Kolbe Certified™ Consultants doing incredible work. 

In this episode of Powered by Instinct, host Toby Phillips engages with the three finalists for the Kolbe Professional Award. Sarah Gillet Couto shares her transformative journey from banking to coaching, highlighting how Kolbe's theory reshaped her career and personal understanding. 

Morgan Hutchings and Shawn Gulyas contribute their expertise, discussing the impact of conative theory in team productivity and leadership. They dive into the nuances of conative stress and its management, offering insights into workplace dynamics and personal growth. 

Listeners will gain a deeper appreciation for the Kolbe theory's practical applications, as each guest reveals how it empowers individuals and teams to harness their innate strengths while sharing the insights that got them recognized for their excellence. This episode is a treasure trove of wisdom for anyone looking to enhance their work with Kolbe, as well as for those who just want to learn more about the power of understanding their instincts.


Host: Toby Phillips (7464)

💡 Guests: Sarah Gillet Couto (4565); Morgan Hutchings (9425); Shawn Gulyas (5482)

💡 What they do: Multi Lingual Leadership & Communication Expert, Executive Coach | Senior Consultant | Founder & The Thought Catalyst 

💡 Companies: Sarah Gillet Couto Consulting | AuDExperts | humanworks8 

💡 Noteworthy: Sarah Gillet Couto: Executive coach, former banker, passionate about Kolbe's transformative power. / Morgan Hutchings: Expert in team efficiency, advocate for productivity through conative understanding. / Shawn Gulyas: Leadership consultant, focuses on building conative excellence in organizations. 

💡 Where to find them: Learn more from our blog: https://www.kolbe.com/blog/2023-conative-excellence-awards-finalists-announced 

Innovative Hiring Practices with Morgan Hutchings 

Timestamp: [00:19:44]  

Morgan Hutchings discusses the unique hiring process implemented at AuDExperts. He emphasizes the importance of aligning candidates with the company's core values and communication preferences from the onset. This process includes a voicemail introduction, a virtual interview, and a Kolbe A index assessment to ensure candidates are a good fit for the team and the company culture.  

Sarah Gillet Couto on Conative Stress and Team Dynamics 

Timestamp: [00:08:37] 

Sarah Gillet Couto shares an insightful case where conative stress was affecting a team undergoing significant changes. She recounts a conversation with a director of operations who was experiencing stress due to a role that did not align with her natural instincts.  

"We had this very interesting conversation yesterday... She said, I'm so happy we're having this session with the entire team together because I want you to use my stress to address what is going on within the group." 

Shawn Gulyas on the Essence of Consulting 

Timestamp: [00:31:53] 

Shawn Gulyas prov

***
Find the freedom to be yourself by taking the Kolbe A™ Index or The Student Aptitude Quiz for the youth in your life.

In this special episode of Powered by Instinct, we bring you a webinar from EOS Worldwide’s Strong in Six™ Business Challenge. As part of People Week, Kolbe Corp President Amy Bruske was asked to speak on how to master the People Component™ of your business.

The result is “The Easy Button for Team Health,” a candid discussion on how to make your most pressing people decisions easier to handle. You'll discover the secret to making the biggest impact on team performance in the quickest amount of time, get a better understanding of the Kolbe System™ and how you can apply it to yourself and your business, and so much more. (There’s a substantial Q&A with Amy and Kolbe VP of Sales Eric Herrera near the end of the session.)

Interested in the easy button for team health? Just press play on this episode!

Guest-at-a-Glance

💡 Name: Amy Bruske (3583)

💡 What she does: President

💡 Company: Kolbe Corp

💡 Noteworthy: This episode was originally a webinar for People Week as part of the EOS Strong in Six™ Business Challenge.

💡Where to find Amy: LinkedIn 

Unlocking Personal Potential through Kolbe Assessments

Amy Bruske emphasizes the importance of understanding individual strengths using the Kolbe assessment. 

"What we're focused on today and what Kolbe has found is that there is one factor that is most tied to performance for individuals and for teams. If you could focus on this, it's the secret to unlocking the potential of the people in your business. It's going to make your most important relationships easier. It's going to make your own productivity that much easier and less stressful."

Tailoring Job Roles with Kolbe Assessments

Amy Bruske and Eric Herrera discuss how Kolbe assessments can be applied in the hiring process. They highlight the importance of assessing compatibility between job roles and individual strengths. Amy mentions that job descriptions can be created or modified based on Kolbe results, ensuring a better fit between the role and the candidate. They stress that even for roles that may seem to require specific traits, individual preferences and organizational growth stage should be considered.

"You don't need a job description, you just need a clear understanding of what success looks like in that role."

Kolbe vs. Other Assessments: Complementary Insights

Amy and Eric address the question of how Kolbe assessments compare to other assessments like DiSC. They explain that Kolbe focuses on how individuals naturally take action and problem-solve, while other assessments may reveal preferences. Eric emphasizes the value of using both Kolbe and other assessments to gain a more comprehensive understanding of team dynamics. 

"In the ideal world, honestly, use both because you get to understand different dimensions of a person."

Nurturing Children's Strengths with Kolbe

Amy discusses the applicability of Kolbe assessments in parenting and education. She suggests that understanding children's natural strengths can help tailor educational approaches to their unique learning styles. Amy also acknowledges that school systems may not always align with a child's strengths and encourages parents to validate their children's unique qualities. She emphasizes the importance of helping children find their strengths early, which can lead to better self-awareness and personal growth.

"We need to validate with our kid

***
Find the freedom to be yourself by taking the Kolbe A™ Index or The Student Aptitude Quiz for the youth in your life.

Action Starters are a series of shorts from the Powered by Instinct podcast. These are bite-sized clips with easily accessible knowledge for you to enjoy.

This clip comes to us from Season 1, Episode 3, when Kolbe Corp CEO David Kolbe sat down with Jessica Mogill of Crisp.

In this short clip, they discuss why using Kolbe in hiring is a non-negotiable for Crisp, one great mindset to have when using Kolbe to hire, and a specific time where using Kolbe helped a member of the Crisp team become the right person in the right role.

"Hiring with Kolbe is a bottom line non-negotiable. Why would you not use this?” – Jesicca Mogill

***
Find the freedom to be yourself by taking the Kolbe A™ Index or The Student Aptitude Quiz for the youth in your life.

How do you travel for 17 days across 16 states with your family of 4 in a cramped vehicle and live to tell the tale? 

If you’re Tashyna Wingo, Director of Operations at Kolbe Corp, you survive by understanding and accounting for everyone’s instinctive needs! 

In this episode, Tashyna recounts her 5,800 mile long “great American family road trip” in a conversation with Nicole Loucks, VP of Youth & Education Programs at Kolbe. They delve into the dynamics of a family road trip, highlighting the unique ways each family member's instinctive strengths played out during the journey and how Tashyna managed to navigate those strengths and keep everyone happy. They also cover some Kolbe resources and ideas that are helpful for families in general. 

If you’re looking for insights into how to better support the loved ones in your life (and who isn’t), this is the Powered by Instinct episode for you! 

 
Host: Nicole Loucks (5824)

Guest-at-a-Glance 

💡 Name: Tashyna Wingo (8543)

💡What they do: Director of Operations 

💡Company: Kolbe Corp 

💡Noteworthy: Orchestrated a cross-country family road trip, hitting 16 states, and used knowledge of Kolbe Strengths™ to make sure everyone’s needs were met 

💡 Where to find them: LinkedIn 

Understanding Children's Strengths in Education 

Nicole highlights the Student Aptitude Quiz, a conative assessment tailored for kids. This tool helps children understand their strengths and how to leverage them in areas they're passionate about, such as excelling in school. Tashyna shares her personal experience, noting how an online, self-paced environment allowed her daughter Madeline to thrive, given her unique approach to problem-solving. 

 
Empowering Teachers with Kolbe Insights 

Tashyna reveals that she encourages her son's teachers to take the Kolbe Index every year. This initiative helps educators understand their unique strengths and how they approach problem-solving. By sharing these insights, Tashyna aims to foster a more supportive and understanding educational environment for her son and his peers. 

Challenges and Disagreements on the Road 

Nicole probes Tashyna about the challenges and disagreements they faced during the road trip. Tashyna shares some light-hearted moments, like siblings' squabbles in the backseat. She also mentions a recurring point of contention with her husband, Tom, about how they measured travel progress: hours vs. miles. 

"I'd say probably the only disagreements that Tom and I had, and it took me a little too long to get with the program, but he'd ask me how, like going from location to location, you know, what are we looking at? And so I would say it's two and a half hours. And he's like, ‘I don't care about the hours. I wanna know how many miles…"  - Tashyna

Empowering Students with Kolbe Insights 

The conversation shifts to the importance of understanding students' natural strengths. Nicole recalls how Henry actively participated during a Strengths Week project at school. Tashyna emphasizes the value of the Student Aptitude Quiz and how it has benefited her children. 

"And I have to say, when we went into the school and did that Strengths Week project, Henry was our helper with physical materials. He was passing things out; he was carrying things; he was doing all sorts of stuff." 

***
Find the freedom to be yourself by taking the Kolbe A™ Index or The Student Aptitude Quiz for the youth in your life.