Custom Media Team Tackles Kolbe A™ Index

Custom Media met in Nihonbashi to participate in a workshop, led by Karl Pisor, to understand their Kolbe A™ Index results. In the previous week, every team member was tasked with taking the Index assessment, which identifies an individual’s instinctive nature, rather than testing for intelligence levels or personality traits.

Developed by Kathy Kolbe, the Kolbe A™ Index is a unique assessment that identifies individuals’ instinctive methods of action. The survey evaluates how people naturally gather information, organize tasks, manage risk and handle tangible challenges through four Action Modes®: Fact Finder, Follow Thru, Quick Start, and Implementor. 

Each mode is rated on a scale from one to ten, revealing whether someone prefers detailed analysis, system design, experimentation or practical construction. 

1. Fact Finder: Scores 7-10 gather lots of specifics; 1-3 prefer an overview
2. Follow Thru: Scores 7-10 design systems; 1-3 organize adaptively
3. Quick Start: Scores 7-10 thrive on experimentation; 1-3 minimize risks
4. Implementor: Scores 7-10 build physical solutions; 1-3 imagine solutions

Each score reflects how someone naturally approaches problem-solving and decision-making. The overall score is called an MO (method of operation). It is the only validated assessment that measures a person’s natural instincts, rather than their intelligence or personality.

Building a Cohesive Team with Kolbe A™ Insights

Understanding your instincts helps you leverage your natural strengths, and by understanding both your own and your coworker’s MOs, teams can more effectively organize and improve collaboration. 

The Custom Media team had fun sharing their MOs and learning about each others’ natural instincts. 

“I wasn’t surprised by my results,” said Emanuel Turchetta, Project Manager at Custom Media. “I recognized myself immediately in my scores. What was interesting was seeing how the difference in scores between myself and my teammates helped explain where there can be communication issues. Understanding that someone else has a different score in Fact Finder, for example, is going to help me communicate with them better.”

The workshop was led by Karl Pisor of The Entrepreneurial Operating System® (EOS), a business management framework used to help leadership teams in companies across Japan and the rest of Asia identify and execute on their visions. Karl led the Custom Media team in a comprehensive workshop to understand what everyone’s MO means for themselves and for their teams. 

Knowing both your own and your coworker’s MOs can be an effective way to create a cohesive, collaborative environment, but it’s equally useful in building a team in the first place. Making sure that someone’s natural instincts align well with the job that’s expected of them can ensure that there are no hiccups or surprises in the hiring and onboarding processes. 

“In the past year, we really have become more efficient as a team,” said Michael Pfeffer, Design Director at Custom Media. “I really believe we have the right people in the right seats.”

The event concluded with a company lunch where team members were able to reflect on what they had learned about themselves, not just as an employee, but as a person. 

Overall, the event served as a unique workshop in self-awareness, and made for some fun and insightful in-person bonding. By taking the time to understand everyone’s instincts, the Custom Media team is well-positioned to ensure that everyone’s natural talents contribute not only to the company’s continued success but also to consistently delivering outstanding results for our clients.