Learn How This Assessment Differs From Other Run-Of-the-Mill Work Personality Tests
Imagine your boss requests that you write a report about electric cars.
Naturally, you ask, “What should the report focus on?” This is a broad topic that you could take in several directions. Sales. Performance. Recall history. You want specifics before moving forward.
But your boss says, “Just keep it high-level. I need it by the end of the day.”
Suddenly, the pressure is on. You have a lot to do, and not much time to do it. And although you’re capable of putting words on the page, your natural instincts tell you that you don’t have enough information to do the assignment justice. You feel like you’re flying blind, destined to collide into a windowpane of failure.
That state of mental stress or resistance you feel is called “conative strain.” It’s the term that describes situations where you’re forced to work in a process that doesn’t naturally suit you, such as engaging in projects without having enough information or direction.
If the feelings associated with conative strain sound familiar, you’re not alone. Countless people experience this when they’re forced into a process or line of work that doesn’t naturally suit them.
So, how can you, as an employee, figure out which situations you’ll thrive in? And how can you avoid those crippling moments of conative strain?
Let’s explore the Kolbe A™ Index, and how you can use it as a career aptitude test that reveals your unique strengths in the workplace.
What Are Career Aptitude Tests?
Job aptitude tests typically fall into one of three categories:
- Personality tests: These measure traits like extroversion, agreeableness, or emotional tendencies. Work personality tests can help you understand how you interact with others, but they don’t predict job performance.
- Skills-based career aptitude tests: These assess abilities like math skills, writing ability, or technical knowledge. Although these assessments are revealing, they don’t account for how you instinctively tackle problems and approach projects.
- Interest-based tests: These match you to careers based on your preferences, but don’t consider how you naturally operate in a work environment. For example, you may be interested in engineering but lack the natural instincts to thrive in an engineering environment.
What Is the Kolbe A™ Index?
The Kolbe A™ Index measures how you instinctively take action and solve problems. Unlike traditional career aptitude tests, which focus on what you know, skills, or interests, the Kolbe A™ Index identifies your conative strengths.
By measuring your natural problem-solving strengths, this assessment can help you understand how you work best and which career paths or roles you’re most likely to be successful in.
How the Kolbe A™ Index Identifies Your Natural Strengths
What makes the Kolbe A™ Index unique from other job aptitude tests is how it identifies your strengths through four Action Modes®. These describe how you instinctively approach problem-solving and work-related tasks. Everyone has a unique combination of Action Modes®, which influences how they function in different roles.
Fact Finder: How You Gather and Share Information
People who naturally take action in Fact Finder love researching, analyzing details, and asking questions before making decisions. Those who don’t naturally take action in Fact Finder prefer simplifying information, making quick decisions, and focusing on the big picture.
Fact Finders thrive as research analysts, financial planners, and investigative journalists, where thorough research is essential.
Follow Thru: How You Organize and Structure Work
People who naturally take action in Follow Thru excel at creating systems, following processes, and maintaining organization. Those who don’t thrive in Follow Thru prefer flexibility, adaptability, and spontaneous problem-solving.
Follow Thrus are best suited for project management, logistics, and administrative roles, where organization is key.
Quick Start: How You Deal With Risk and Uncertainty
Quick Starts are characterized by innovation, taking risks, and experimenting with new ideas. People who don’t naturally take action in Quick Start prefer stability, predictability, and cautious decision-making.
Quick Starts thrive as startup founders, marketers, and creatives, where thinking on your feet is crucial.
Implementor: How You Handle Tangible Solutions and Physical Space
Implementors prefer building, hands-on problem-solving, and working with tools or physical models. Those that don’t naturally take action in Implementor prefer abstract thinking, conceptual problem-solving, and working in digital spaces or through verbal communication.
Implementors often find success as mechanics, carpenters, and surgeons, where hands-on work defines the role.
How to Use Your Kolbe A™ Index Results to Find the Right Career
After you receive your Kolbe A™ Index results and have them interpreted to you by a Kolbe-certified consultant, you can use that information to:
- Identify roles that align with your strengths.
- Improve workplace communication.
- Increase job satisfaction.
Identify Roles That Align With Your Natural Strengths
Your highest Action Mode® signals what type of career path best suits you. For example, if you naturally take action in Quick Start, you may be happiest in a fast-moving, dynamic environment. If you’re a Follow Thru, you might prefer a more structured role with clear processes.
Improve Teamwork and Workplace Communication
Not only does your Action Mode® provide self-awareness and insight into your own natural process, but it also helps define who you will work well with. Understanding your strengths and the strengths of your team can lead to better collaboration. For example, a Fact Finder might handle research, while a Quick Start takes charge of brainstorming new ideas.
Increase Job Satisfaction and Productivity
Working against your natural way of doing things leads to frustration and stress. When you work in a way that matches your natural instincts, you feel more energized and motivated, which leads to higher productivity.
Why the Kolbe A™ Index Is a Game-Changing Career Aptitude Test
Unlike a traditional job aptitude test or work personality test, the Kolbe A™ Index doesn’t tell you what career to choose. It tells how you naturally work best, which helps you identify roles that bring long-term job satisfaction.
By focusing on how you take action rather than what you like or what skills you have, the Kolbe A™ Index provides real insights into where you’ll be most effective in the workplace.
If you’re looking for a career aptitude test that helps you work smarter, not harder, the Kolbe A™ Index is the perfect tool for unlocking your natural strengths and finding a path that truly fits.
