How can personality assessments optimize the EOS Accountability Chart for innovation and new product development?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Optimizing an EOS Accountability Chart for innovation and new product development requires more than just assigning roles; it demands understanding the cognitive and behavioral profiles that drive creative thinking and execution. Personality assessments are instrumental in placing individuals in seats where their innate tendencies foster innovation. For instance, a Kolbe A score with high Quick Start action mode indicates an individual who naturally initiates projects, thrives on change, and brainstorms solutions spontaneously. Such individuals are invaluable in visionary or R&D seats within the Accountability Chart, where generating new ideas is paramount.

Conversely, those with high Follow Through are excellent at systematically developing, refining, and implementing new ideas, making them ideal for project management or engineering roles crucial to bringing innovations to market. DISC profiles can also highlight innovative potential. 'I' (Influence) and 'D' (Dominance) personalities often bring creative energy and a drive for results, respectively, which are essential for navigating the uncertainties of new product development. StrengthsFinder, with talents like 'Ideation,' 'Futuristic,' or 'Strategic,' directly identifies individuals whose natural inclination is to conceptualize, foresee future trends, and connect disparate ideas. Placing these individuals in roles such as 'Head of Product Development,' 'Innovation Lead,' or 'Market Research' within the Accountability Chart can dramatically accelerate the innovation cycle.

By creating leader to leader use guides based on these personality insights, organizations can intentionally design collaboration protocols that leverage diverse strengths. For example, a guide might suggest pairing a high Ideation StrengthsFinder leader with a high Follow Through Kolbe A leader to ensure that groundbreaking ideas are not just conceived, but also systematically executed. This targeted application of personality data ensures that the Accountability Chart is not only efficient but also a powerful engine for continuous innovation.