What makes great leadership teams tick?

Few people understand the answer to that better than CJ DuBe’, an Expert EOS implementer and experienced Kolbe Certified™ Consultant.

In this conversation, she and Amy Bruske bring us into the room where it happens, by exploring the work CJ does in leadership team sessions. They discuss the importance of understanding team member strengths, building intentional cultures, and enhancing leadership team dynamics to optimize performance. They delve into real-world examples of how different Kolbe strengths affect teamwork and problem-solving, emphasizing the importance of open, honest, and vulnerable communication. In addition, CJ shares personal insights from her career, highlighting the need for leaders to advocate for themselves and their teams, and the value of understanding individual strengths in fostering a successful team environment. She also recounts the importance Kolbe played in setting her son up for success, and she and Amy break down the many benefits that come from understanding your instinctive strengths at an early age.

Host: Amy Bruske (3583)

Guest-at-a-Glance

💡 Name: CJ DuBe’ (4483)

💡What she does: CJ is a renowned speaker, best-selling author, and Expert EOS Implementer®. She is also the former Global Community Leader at EOS Worldwide®.

💡Company: EOS Worldwide

💡 Where to find them: LinkedIn

Takeaways

• 82% of leaders feel their biggest stress is people.
• Building an intentional culture is crucial for success.
• Genuine care and concern does not mean avoiding tough conversations.
• A weak link on your team affects the culture.
• Open, honest, and vulnerable leadership is key to team success.
• Kolbe helps identify root issues in teams and improve dynamics.
• A leadership team is only as good as their middle management.
• The dream team is made up of diverse strengths and perspectives.

Key Quotes from CJ

" Ultimately we're thinking about how do you build an intentional culture and what does that look like to build an intentional culture? And the reality is, Kolbe is part of that.”

“ Most people say things honestly, but are you willing to be vulnerable?”

“ All of the good research around emotional intelligence shows that teams that have a level of trust thrive. And that is why Kolbe is one of our trust builders.”

“When I finally did my Kolbe, the light bulb went off for me.”

“ That is the biggest gift that we can give our kids, is being able to understand, no, you have these strengths. When you're in a position to work against them, it's not gonna feel real natural and it's gonna be a little bit of a struggle.”

Chapters

01:27 CJ's Background and Expertise

02:49 The Importance of the People Component in EOS

03:33 Building an Intentional Culture

06:55 Challenges in Leadership Teams

08:08 The Role of Kolbe in Team Dynamics

16:00 Balancing Team Strengths and Weaknesses

16:10 Leadership and Middle Management

21:43 Navigating Human Instincts in Business

23:46 The Visionary-Integrator Dynamic

28:20 Personal Insights and Career Journey

38:33 Effective Team Communication

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

Nothing great is done alone, so finding the perfect assistant is essential for any top executive. And what makes the perfect assistant? Someone who matches your needs in all three parts of the mind!

In this episode of the Powered by Instinct podcast, Eric interviews Jenna Spencer, the CEO and founder of AssistPro®, a company that matches entrepreneurs with executive assistants. Together, they explore the significance of effective delegation, the evolution of Jenna's role as a visionary leader, and the impact Kolbe has in both professional and personal relationships. They delve into the importance of understanding one's Kolbe Index results, discussing how these instinctive strengths can be leveraged in an executive/assistant relationship. Jenna shares her journey from the corporate world to starting her own company, emphasizing the role of Kolbe in her entrepreneurial success.

Host: Eric Herrera (5392)

Guest-at-a-Glance

💡 Name: Jenna Spencer (7482)

💡What she does: Jenna is the Founder and Visionary of AssistPro®, an executive assistant matching and delegation coaching service created to free up time and create growth for busy leaders.

💡Company: AssistPro®

💡 Where to find them: LinkedIn

Takeaways

• Understanding your Kolbe results can provide self-acceptance.
• Effective delegation requires time and trust-building.
• Identifying $25 vs. $500 tasks is crucial for productivity.
• A good assistant can change your life and business.
• Starting a business requires a sense of urgency and focus.
• Kolbe can improve personal relationships and communication.
• Investing time in hiring pays off in the long run.
• Self-awareness enhances leadership effectiveness.

Key Quotes from Jenna

" I knew that I had to take action, I had to have a sense of urgency, and I had to do the same three to five things every single day to get traction in my business.”

“ The biggest aha for me was it kind of gave me permission to give myself a little bit of grace. Like, oh, I'm not actually crazy.”

“ The cool part is once you figure out what your superpowers are, the more of that stuff you do, it feels like you start to gain momentum and you can just keep going and going and going.”

 ”Kolbe has worked really great in my marriage, honestly.”

"Delegating is really personal."

Chapters

03:12 Understanding Kolbe Results and Personal Insights

05:57 The Role of AssistPro in Business Growth

09:07 Launching a Business: Jenna's Journey

11:55 The Visionary Role and Its Evolution

15:11 Effective Delegation and Common Mistakes

17:53 Identifying the Need for an Assistant

21:04 The Impact of Kolbe in Personal Relationships

23:54 Advice for Business Leaders

27:12 Connecting with AssistPro

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

Imagine a world where productivity is easy and performance is effortless.

David Kolbe and Amy Bruske break down the 'Do More, More Naturally' concept from their best-selling book and introduce the Three C's of Sustainable Performance —Clarity, Commitment, and Collaboration—as essential components for effortless success.

They explore how to attain sustainable high performance by aligning work and personal goals with one's natural strengths, discuss the common pitfalls of traditional productivity advice, and highlight the significance of balancing productivity with natural instincts. David and Amy also offer insights into leveraging conative strengths for better results in both personal and professional settings and delve into practical implications, such as parenting and team collaboration, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and appreciating diverse strengths for long-term success.

Hosts:

💡 Names: David Kolbe (8273) and Amy Bruske (3583)

💡What they do:

David is CEO/Visionary.

Amy is President/Implementer.

💡Company: Kolbe Corp

💡 Where to find them: Kolbe.com/DoMore

Key Takeaways

• The business mission is about solving real challenges.
• Understanding the audience is crucial for effective communication.
• 'Do More, More Naturally' emphasizes sustainable productivity.
• Alignment with personal strengths is key to avoiding burnout.
• Success involves responsibility for results, not just freedom.
• The Three C's framework is essential for productivity.
• Energy management is more important than time management.
• Collaboration enhances productivity and results.
• Mutual respect in teams leads to better outcomes.
• Personal commitment to strengths leads to greater fulfillment. Your conative strengths are with you 24/7.
• One size does not fit all with advice.
• Parents should understand their kid might not be like them.
• We need to challenge ourselves to make sure that we are helping the child discover their strengths.

Quotes:

“What's missing in this how to be more productive formula is sustainable high levels of performance, and that is this magic that is the do more naturally part of Do More, More Naturally.”

“The perfect MO is the one that you appreciate. So I always tell people, learn to appreciate what you have rather than look for something else.”

“It can be life-changing to discover your strengths. And we are on a mission to help others do that.”

00:00 Introduction: Embracing Individual Strengths

00:49 Welcome to Powered by Instinct

01:16 The Concept of Doing More Naturally

02:00 Balancing Productivity and Natural Strengths

04:32 The Importance of Collaboration

10:46 Energy Management vs. Time Management

19:38 Understanding and Leveraging Individual Strengths

24:33 Good Advice Gone Bad

24:53 The Importance of Clarity and Commitment

25:06 Knowing When to Let Go

25:10 Personal Anecdotes on Finishing Projects

28:17 The Value of Improvisation

31:38 Parenting and Individual Strengths

39:12 The Mission to Discover Strengths

42:53 Conclusion and Call to Action

***
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 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.

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 The Student Aptitude Quiz for the youth in your life.

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 The Student Aptitude Quiz for the youth in your life.

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: C

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