What personality assessment combinations best support Accountability Chart cross functional leadership?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Effective cross functional leadership within an Accountability Chart requires nuanced understanding of diverse working styles, making specific combinations of personality assessments particularly valuable. While individual assessments offer insights, their synergy creates a more comprehensive view for leader-to-leader use guides. One potent combination is Kolbe A and DISC. Kolbe A clarifies how individuals initiate and complete work, offering insights into their conative approach to problem solving, data gathering, and implementation. A leader who is a Quick Start in Kolbe might clash with a Fact Finder if their inherent approaches aren't understood. Pairing this with DISC reveals how individuals prefer to communicate, make decisions, and interact with others in social contexts. For example, a DISC 'D' (Dominance) leader with a Kolbe Quick Start will drive initiatives rapidly, but understanding a 'C' (Conscientiousness) leader's need for detail and a Fact Finder's need for comprehensive data is crucial for successful cross functional collaboration.

Another powerful combination involves StrengthsFinder and Culture Index. StrengthsFinder uncovers individual innate talents, like 'Strategic,' 'Developer,' or 'Input,' which are critical for understanding how leaders contribute value in a cross functional setting. A leader with 'Activator' can kick start projects, while a 'Maximizer' can elevate existing ones. When combined with the Culture Index, which measures overall cultural fit and how individuals prefer to be led and lead, a more complete picture emerges. The Culture Index offers insights into innate work preferences and motivational drives, helping leaders understand not just what talents someone brings, but how they prefer to apply them within the team's operating culture. This blend helps to proactively identify potential collaboration hurdles and build complementary cross functional teams, fostering greater alignment and effectiveness across different departments or functions within the Accountability Chart.