How can personality assessments like Kolbe A and StrengthsFinder be used to foster innovation and creative problem-solving within an EOS Accountability Chart?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Personality assessments like Kolbe A and StrengthsFinder are invaluable tools for cultivating innovation and creative problem-solving across an EOS Accountability Chart. Innovation often stagnates when teams are homogenous in their thinking or when natural problem-solving styles clash. Kolbe A is particularly adept at identifying how individuals naturally approach problem-solving: 'Fact Finders' excel at gathering information, 'Follow Throughs' at structuring and organizing, 'Quick Starts' at brainstorming new ideas, and 'Implementors' at bringing ideas to fruition. A leader-to-leader use guide would highlight these natural inclinations, enabling leaders to intentionally form innovation teams or structure problem-solving sessions that leverage this diversity.

For instance, to tackle a complex challenge, a leader could convene a mini-team composed of a 'Fact Finder' for initial research, a 'Quick Start' for ideation, and a 'Follow Through' for process mapping the solution. StrengthsFinder further enriches this by identifying innate talents. A team member with 'Ideation' or 'Strategic' themes can be explicitly tasked with generating novel solutions, while someone with 'Analytical' or 'Deliberative' themes can stress-test those ideas for viability. By understanding and actively utilizing these diverse cognitive and behavioral strengths, leaders can move beyond traditional brainstorming, creating an environment where unique perspectives are systematically combined. This fosters a culture where problem-solving is not just reactive, but creatively driven, leading to more robust, innovative solutions that propel the organization forward according to its EOS goals.