Powered by Instinct

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 second episode of our Kolbe Action Mode® series, Kolbe experts Stephanie Clergé, Eric Herrera, and Nicole Loucks break down the Follow Thru Action Mode and discuss the different strengths within it, such as adapting, maintaining, and systematizing.  

Whether you naturally create systems for everything (like Nicole), maintain flexibility and create shortcuts (like Stephanie and Eric) or find yourself in between keeping those systems running, you’ll benefit greatly from the coaching tips provided here. 

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

Join three Kolbe experts as they follow through on their promise to share how people naturally organize and design.  

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 Follow Thru measures how individuals naturally take action when striving, focusing on how they organize and design. 

Effective coaching and communication strategies are essential for supporting individuals with different strengths in the Follow Thru Action Mode.

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   

“One of the myths about folks who have strengths in the 7 to 10 in Follow Thru that systematize is that because they naturally create structure that if you give them structure, they're going to be happy about that. But everybody kind of needs to create their own structure. So that's something to not impose on other people.” 

“Don't assume that just because something looks unstructured or looks messy or unorganized to you, that there isn't an organizational method for that person. I can usually tell you exactly where something is in my pile. It's the pile to the right, about halfway in.” 

“Bottom line is, you can't change someone's MO. Somebody is not going to get more Follow Thru energy, or less for that matter, right? This is who you are, so you can lean into it.”

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Follow Thru Strengths

00:25 Meet the Hosts: Nicole, Stephanie, and Eric

00:39 Understanding Kolbe Action Modes

03:03 Deep Dive into Follow Thru Action Mode

06:47 Coaching Tips for Systematizers (7-10 Range)

16:59 Coaching Tips for Adapters (1-3 Range)

22:03 Navigating School with Different Strengths

23:17 Embracing Unique Approaches

24:22 The Importance of Collaboration

29:21 Recognizing Mid-Range (4-6) Strengths

33:07 Effective Team Dynamics

40:30 Misconceptions and Final Thoughts

***
Find the freedom to be yourself by taking the Kolbe A™ Index or Kolbe Y™ Index for the youth in your life. Many successful companies work directly with a Kolbe Certified™ Consultant — find one in your area.

If you're a parent, a grandparent, a caregiver, or even a kid yourself, we’ve got a very important message for you! In this very special episode of Powered by Instinct, we'll share a game-changing webinar with guidance on how to empower your kids with the freedom to be themselves. 

You’ll join Nicole Loucks, VP of Education and Youth Programs at Kolbe Corp, as she breaks down how to:  

1. Help kids be more successful by leaning into their natural strengths  

2. Empower youth to be creative, even when their creative approaches are different from yours…or their friends  

3. Guide students through the pitfalls of school and into rewarding careers 

Our goal is to equip students with the knowledge they need to become productive problem solvers. This is an important message, so please pass this podcast episode on to anyone in your life who has at least one kid they care about…it can make a huge difference. 

💡 Hosts: Nicole Loucks (5824)

💡What they do: 

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

💡Company: Kolbe Corp  

💡 Where to find them: https://www.kolbe.com/our-experts/

Takeaways:

Kids and teens each have a unique set of strengths and ways of problem solving.

Their natural way of taking action can be measured through an assessment called the Student Aptitude™ Quiz.

When students aren’t given the freedom to lean into their natural strengths, it can cause stress and limit their ability to problem solve.

Your MO (innate way of taking action) may be different from your child’s. There are ways to make that work, but it requires knowledge and understanding.

If your child is being asked to work against their MO in school, new techniques and approaches can make a world of difference.

Key Quotes   
"Life already requires so much effort.  If you can do it within your strengths, you will literally get more done."

“We need to help kids make good decisions. That's our ultimate goal. We don't necessarily want them to be just like you or their friends or your kid’s friends. We need them to be really great problem solvers.” 

“Each child has a natural strength in each of these areas that is innate to them that can't be changed and shouldn't be changed because this is our absolute best gift to the world.” 

“There is not one path to be successful. They start in the same place, but the way they get there can be so different and should be so different depending on their MO.” 

“Let your child just give themselves permission to not do something well. Not every child has to be somebody who is naturally going to structure or plan using a little planner. Give yourself permission to figure out a different way to get your homework done, or not follow the exact structure of the teacher.” 

***
Find the freedom to be yourself by taking the Kolbe A™ Index or Kolbe Y™ Index for the youth in your life. Many successful companies work directly with a Kolbe Certified™ Consultant — find one in your area.

Gino Wickman has done as much for entrepreneurs as anyone walking this planet. A celebrated leader, founder, and author, he is the mastermind behind incredible systems that countless businesses around the globe use every day. Join Gino and Kolbe Corp President Amy Bruske as they discuss how critical understanding your MO can be to long-term success, and how Gino’s MO and his unique ability to see patterns and trends shaped his path to creating EOS® and including Kolbe in the EOS Toolbox™. In addition, they discuss Gino’s journey as a driven person, the figurative mountain he felt compelled to climb as a driven entrepreneur, and the inner peace and wisdom he found at the top of that mountain. In this episode, Gino connects how better understanding himself and his strengths led to discoveries he could use to help other driven people find their own peace, and why he was inspired to write Shine, his new book that breaks down the 10 Disciplines entrepreneurs can use to maximize their energy, impact, and inner peace. 

Host: Amy Bruske (3583) 

Guest-at-a-Glance  

💡 Name: Gino Wickman (4683) 

💡What he does:  In addition to founding EOS®, Gino is a celebrated entrepreneur and author who has dedicated himself to helping others maximize their freedom. His celebrated books include Traction and Shine. 

💡Company: The 10 Disciplines 

💡 Where to find him: LinkedIn 

💡 More helpful links: 

• Download a free chapter of Shine  
• Visit the10disciplines.com to learn more  
• Take the True Self Assessment 

Takeaways 

• Understanding and appreciating your instinctive strengths can set you on the path to long-term success. 
• Being driven is a blessing and a curse, with the potential for great achievements but also the tendency to cause damage to oneself and others. 
• All decisions are made out of love or fear, and understanding this dynamic can lead to better decision-making and a deeper sense of peace. 
• It is possible to be driven and find peace by shedding the ego and letting one's true self shine. 
• Practical tools and exercises can help individuals on their journey to inner peace. Shedding layers and embracing your true self leads to inner peace and increased drive. 

Key Quotes from Gino 

• "You can be driven and find peace." 
• "There is no mountain to climb; it's all just a journey." 
• “Being driven is both a blessing and a curse.” 
• "All decisions are made out of love or fear." 
• “It is possible to be driven and find peace.” 
• “I am a Kolbe fanatic. I took it and I just fell in love with it because it defined me better than anything I'd found. I mean it was just so powerful and so free.” 
• “Kolbe is determining true self in work, like the soul of the human being.” 
• “I made every one of my clients take Kolbes, and it is now one of the 20 tools in the EOS toolbox. And so, we've now had tens of thousands of people take Kolbe because of its power in there.” 

Chapters 
00:00 The Journey of the Entrepreneur

11:31 Being Driven: Blessing and Curse

25:25 Embracing Your True Self

34:14 The 10 Disciplines to Maximize Energy, Impact, and Inner Peace

38:58 Practicing Gratitude: Cultivating Humility and Shifting Focus

48:39 The Value of Struggle: Personal Growth and Resilience

***
Find the freedom to be yourself by taking the Kolbe A™ Index or Kolbe Y™ Index for the youth in your life. Many successful companies work directly with a Kolbe Certified™ Consultant — find one in your area.

Why do we take assessments? What type of assessments should people and businesses use? How can you use assessments to effectively grow your business? 

In this conversation, Amy Bruske and Shannon Waller from Strategic Coach provide the answers to these pressing questions and more. They explore the different types of assessments and how they can provide insights into an individual's cognitive strengths, motivations, and natural ways of taking action. Shannon shares her favorite assessments, including Kolbe, CliftonStrengths, Print and Working Genius, and explains how they complement each other.  
 
They also discuss the effective use of assessments in understanding individual strengths and building successful teams. Shannon also shares her personal insights from taking the Kolbe A™ Index, how Strategic Coach implements it effectively, and how her MO has guided her career.  

If you’re thinking about using assessments to improve your business, this is a great guide for how to do that more effectively. If you’re not using assessments to grow your business, it’s a great wake up call to let you know the importance of setting your team up for success! 

Host: Amy Bruske (3583) 

Guest-at-a-Glance  

💡 Name: Shannon Waller (3295) 

💡What she does:  Shannon is Entrepreneurial Team Strategist at Strategic Coach®. She is also the author of several books, including The Team Success Handbook: 12 Strategies for Highly Productive Entrepreneurial Teams. 

💡Company: Strategic Coach 

💡 Where to find them: LinkedIn 

Takeaways 

• Assessments provide a quick and accurate read on people, helping leaders make informed decisions about fit and role alignment. 
• Using multiple assessments allows for a more comprehensive understanding of an individual's strengths, motivations, and preferred ways of taking action. 
• Assessments should not be used to box people in or as a cop-out for not taking action; they should be used as tools for self-awareness and growth. 
• Understanding and leveraging one's unique ability is key to maximizing impact and fulfillment in work. Increase the amount of time spent in your unique ability to achieve life-changing results. 
• Use assessments as a resource for understanding individual strengths and building successful teams. 
• Be cautious of using assessments as the sole basis for hiring or firing decisions. 
• Certifications and consultants can provide valuable expertise in implementing assessments effectively. 

Key Quotes from Shannon 

"Assessments should not be slapping a label on you because here's the deal. You are not that result, whatever assessment you're using at all times.” 

"If you're doing just one assessment, you're only having one dimension. Human beings are incredibly complex and multidimensional."  

“I think the number one value of assessments for me is to be able to get a read on people quickly. Business is moving fast. You don't have time to just hang out eight hours a day for three months with someone getting to know what makes them tick.” 

“It could take you years to figure something out about someone sometimes that an assessment can help pinpoint for you right away.” 

Chapters 

09:34 

The Importance of Using Multiple Assessments 

24:08 

Increasing Time in Unique Ability Activities 

39:33 

Focusing on Teamwork and Collaboration for Success 

***
Find the freedom to be yourself by taking the Kolbe A™ Index or Kolbe Y™ Index for the youth in your life. Many successful companies work directly with a Kolbe Certified™ Consultant — find one in your area.

What’s the number one thing keeping entrepreneurs up at night? People problems.  

So, we asked the President and Integrator of the company helping hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurial companies around the world how to turn their worst personnel nightmares into a dream scenario. 

In this conversation, you’ll hear Kelly Knight of EOS Worldwide and Amy Bruske, President/Integrator of Kolbe Corp dive into the best ways to solve your biggest people issues and ensure maximum productivity from your team. You’ll learn about the importance of Right People Right Seats, how building an intentional is everything, and even the power of love (yes, love) in leading your team. 

Stop staying up late worrying and start building the culture your people need and deserve. The path begins with this episode of Powered by Instinct! 

Host: Amy Bruske (3583) 

 Guest-at-a-Glance  

💡 Name: Kelly Knight (7752) 

💡What she does: As President/Integrator of EOS® Worldwide, Kelly helps provide entrepreneurs with simple concepts and practical tools to drive results for their businesses. Kelly is also an official member of the Forbes Business Council. 

💡Company: EOS Worldwide 

💡 Where to find them: LinkedIn 

💡 Author of New Book: People: Dare to Build an Intentional Culture 

Takeaways 

• People are central to the success of any business. 
• Using Kolbe’s RightFit™ Hiring Solution, and open-ended questions can help in hiring the right people. 
• Building an intentional culture requires thoughtfulness and dedication. 
• Balancing challenge and skill is crucial for employee development. Create an open and honest environment for employees to express their concerns and feelings. 
• Practice heart-centered leadership and prioritize genuine care and concern for others. 
• Have courageous conversations and make decisions that serve the greater good of the organization and individuals. 
• Read 'People: Dare to Build an Intentional Culture' to learn about creating intentional cultures and access the resources available. 

Key Quotes from Kelly 

“When you see really spectacular cultures where people are loving what they do and thriving and companies are growing and you can see the kind of impact they’re making on the world, that didn’t just happen by accident.”  

"Getting the most out of people really requires that you're showing up with that genuine caring concern. I always say, please do not become a manager or leader if you don't have genuine love for people." 

"There are a couple really key things that we do across the board no matter what seat we're hiring for. And one of those is Kolbe. Kolbe has been absolutely instrumental every single hire." 

Chapters 

02:16  The Importance of People in Business

04:06  Common Problems in Companies Running on EOS

05:30  The Role of Values in Hiring

06:50  Key Tools for Hiring and Building Teams

08:19  The Importance of Culture in Business

10:14  Balancing Results and Culture

11:32  The Role of Love in Leadership

12:51  Building an Intentional Culture

14:59  The Importance of Strengths and Fit in Roles

16:19  Balancing Skill and Challenge in Roles

19:33  The Role of Heart-Centered Leadership

21:43  The EOS People Book and the Importance of Intentional Culture

38:36  The EOS People Book Launch and Resources

***
Find the freedom to be yourself by taking the Kolbe A™ Index or Kolbe Y™ Index for the youth in your life. Many successful companies work directly with a Kolbe Certified™ Consultant — find one in your area.

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 episode, Kolbe experts Stephanie Clergé, Eric Herrera, and Nicole Loucks break down the Fact Finder Action Mode and discuss the different strengths within it, such as specifying, simplifying, and explaining. They provide coaching tips for each strength and address common misconceptions.  

They also explore how different Fact Finder strengths can work together in a workplace setting and how you can maximize your Fact Finder strength for more productivity, better communication, and improved collaboration. 

Join three Kolbe experts as they delve deep (and also provide an overview and essential facts) into the Fact Finder Action Mode and learn how different people naturally gather and share information. 

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 VP of Training, as well as VP of Education and Youth Programs. 

💡Company: Kolbe Corp 

💡 Where to find them: Kolbe.com 

Takeaways  

Fact Finder measures the instinctive need to probe and the way we gather and share information. 

Behavior ranges from gathering detailed information and documenting strategies to simplifying and clarifying options.  

This Action Mode deals with detail and complexity, providing the perspective of the past. 

There are a wide variety of strengths across this Action Mode, all of which are equally vital. 

Key Quotes  

“Just because two people have the same strength or even the exact same number, doesn’t mean they will act the same way. It's going to play out differently because of three parts of the mind.” 

• Eric Herrera 

“It's good to remember that we have in a general population, just as many Initiating seven, eight, nines and tens in Fact Finder as we do one through threes in Fact Finder. It’s important to get out into the world and see the variety that's out there and help all children find places where they can be successful.” 

• Nicole Loucks 

“When you get your Kolbe A Index result, you get four numbers. People do tend to sometimes focus on the first one, cause it's the first one, or they focus on one that is their longest line, but all four of your strengths are just as important.” 

• Stephanie Clergé 

Chapters 

00:00 Introduction to Kolbe Corp and Action Modes® 

01:23 Understanding Kolbe and the Cognitive Part of the Mind 

02:58 Exploring the Fact Finder Action Mode 

05:35 Coaching Initiating Fact Finders 

06:28 Coaching Simplifying Fact Finders 

23:23 Working Together with Different Fact Finder Strengths 

29:51 Working Together with the Same Fact Finder Strengths 

33:08 Common Misconceptions about Fact Finder 

37:04 Importance of Looking at All Four Strengths 

***
Find the freedom to be yourself by taking the Kolbe A™ Index or Kolbe Y™ Index for the youth in your life. Many successful companies work directly with a Kolbe Certified™ Consultant — find one in your area.

Nobody is asked to make more decisions, more difficult decisions, or more important decisions than executives. So anything that gives leaders an upper hand in making those decisions more efficiently and effectively is pure gold.  Enter our guests: Susan Spritz Myers and Whitney Capps. Susan and Whitney are both incredible leadership coaches who know how to help executives achieve amazing results and build remarkable teams.  In this episode, they discuss the impact of knowing your MO (Modus Operandi) and how it can shape your personal and professional life. They share specific case studies of how they used Kolbe to help clients solve major problems through understanding their strengths and working together more effectively. They also discuss the importance of building teams with diverse strengths and using a whole person approach to company culture. If you’re a leader (or you work with them), listening to this episode will lead to great things and high-performing teams! 

Host: Eric Herrera (5392)

Guests-at-a-Glance  

💡 Names: Susan Spritz Myers (4392) and Whitney Capps (8562)

💡What they do: Whitney has experience coaching a variety of leaders and specializes in emerging leaders, law and government, tech leaders, entrepreneurs, and non-profit leaders and activists. Susan provides executive coaching and team development to CEOs, business owners, VPs, senior-level leaders and teams of mid-market companies. 

💡Companies: Susan Spritz Myers, LLC and ClearSpace  

💡 Where to find them: https://susanspritzmyers.com/ and https://clearspace.net/ 

Takeaways 

• Knowing your MO can have a significant impact on your personal and professional life, providing clarity and confidence in decision-making. 
• Kolbe assessments can help individuals and teams understand their strengths and work together more effectively. 
• Building diverse teams and being intentional in leadership development are key to creating high-performing teams. 
• Self-awareness, trust, and collaboration are essential for success in team dynamics. 

Key Quotes from Our Guests 

“I have two children and I gave them Index A when they were in high school. One is graduated, one is in graduate school for physical therapy. But the fact that they got to do college or make choices based on knowing that MO I feel like is the best thing I ever did for them.”  - Susan Spritz-Myers 

“There's opportunity for the short term and long term with Kolbe. Whether you have your results or not, just understanding that those striving instincts are at play for yourself and for others can really be life-changing. And what I think we've been able to leverage is we don't just stop there.”  - Whitney Capps 

“If we have autonomy and freedom and psychological safety, we are much more likely to be engaged at work. And Kolbe is a huge part of helping an organization, helping an individual, helping a leader, make sure that people feel like they can be themselves.”    - Whitney Capps 

Chapters 

00:00 Introduction and Welcome 

01:11 Impact of Knowing Your MO 

02:14 Personal Impact of Kolbe 

03:23 Impact of Kolbe on Leadership Teams 

08:32 Building a Relationship with a Law Firm Client 

13:23 Understanding and Leveraging Different MOs 

16:36 Supporting Individuals in Teams 

22:25 Looking at the Whole Person 

26:21 Shifting Roles and Responsibilities 

29:40 Opportunities with Kolbe 

32:58 Building High Performing Teams 

37:40 Conclusion and Contact Information 

***
Find the freedom to be yourself by taking the Kolbe A™ Index or Kolbe Y™ Index for the youth in your life. Many successful companies work directly with a Kolbe Certified™ Consultant — find one in your area.

How do you ensure you’re equipped to grow as a business leader? As a family member? As a trusted member of your community? And how can you help others do the same? 

In this episode, Stephanie Clergé, VP of People and Product Development at Kolbe Corp, and Rob Castaneda , Founder and CEO of ServiceRocket, discuss how to infuse Kolbe Wisdom™ into a business in in ways that will empower team members and clients alike. Rob shares his experience with taking the Kolbe A™ Index and how it has helped him understand himself and others better. Learn how ServiceRocket has integrated Kolbe into their hiring process and the use of technology to support their people operations, how they have fostered a diversity of strengths on their teams, and the value empowering “Rocketeers” to learn and grow has added for everyone involved. 

Host: Stephanie Clergé (8363)

Guest-at-a-Glance  

💡 Name: Rob Castaneda (3384)

💡What they do: As Founder and CEO of ServiceRocket, Rob aims to help “Rocketeers” learn and grow so that they can have an impact on their careers, their families, and their communities. He partners with smart, fast-growing enterprise software companies and helps them build out their ecosystems.  

💡Company: ServiceRocket  

💡 Where to find them: LinkedIn 

Takeaways 

• Understanding and leveraging instinctive strengths can help individuals be more deliberate and make better choices in different situations. 
• Empowering employees with knowledge about their instinctive strengths can lead to better collaboration and communication. 
• Using Kolbe in the hiring process can help identify candidates who are a good fit for the role and the team. 
• Investing in leadership development and proactive initiatives can have a significant impact on the growth and success of a company. 

Key Quotes from Rob 

“The part that I really enjoyed initially was being able to compare my profile with other executives in the company to give some pointers and, you know, take the edge off some frustration that you might be having.” 

“We have a lot of migrants in our business from all corners of the world, and there's a very big calling for me to be able to empower them. And not just on technical skills. I actually think interpersonal soft skills are probably the most important. It has an impact on their careers, but also — knowing this stuff — I'm a better husband. I'm a better father. I'm a better community leader. And I think that's what actually has a better impact on the world.” 

“It's kind of like, here's who you are; you're done. With Kolbe, it's just a system of understanding. And then I know what levers I have to pull, right? So that I can adjust my behavior the way that fits the situation.” 

“I think educating your managers and investing in programs like this...managers actually love this kind of stuff. And starting to challenge them to say, okay... hey, every time you guys hire somebody, did you realize that you hire the same profile all the time? We all have biases, and this is a great framework and tool and infrastructure to use to make yourself better, make your team better, or make your company better.” 

Chapters 

00:00 Introduction and Background 

03:12 Service Rocket and its Mission 

06:00 Empowering Rocketeers 

09:18 Understanding and Leveraging Instinctive Strengths 

14:34 Rollout of Kolbe in the Company 

19:42 Using Kolbe to Make a Difference 

26:23 Advice for Leaders in the People Part of Business 

32:02 Final Thoughts and Encouragement 

***
Find the freedom to be yourself by taking the Kolbe A™ Index or Kolbe Y™ Index for the youth in your life. Many successful companies work directly with a Kolbe Certified™ Consultant — find one in your area.

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 Kolbe Y™ Index for the youth in your life. Many successful companies work directly with a Kolbe Certified™ Consultant — find one in your area.

 “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 Kolbe Y™ Index for the youth in your life. Many successful companies work directly with a Kolbe Certified™ Consultant — find one in your area.