Hiring the right people is just the beginning—retaining, developing, and managing them effectively is what drives long-term business success. As small businesses grow, the need for intentional talent management becomes more apparent. That’s where behavioral and cognitive tools like the DISC assessment and the Kolbe Index come into play.

At Behney Management Strategies, we believe that understanding how people are wired—how they behave, communicate, and problem-solve—creates a more aligned, productive workplace. Two of the most effective tools we recommend for talent management are the DISC and Kolbe assessments. Let’s explore how each one works and how they can be used together to build stronger teams.

What Is DISC?

DISC is a behavioral assessment that measures four core traits:

• Dominance (D): How someone handles problems and challenges
• Influence (I): How someone interacts and persuades others
• Steadiness (S): How someone responds to pace and consistency
• Conscientiousness (C): How someone deals with procedures and accuracy

DISC is most useful in understanding how a person communicates and collaborates with others. It’s a powerful tool for managing interpersonal dynamics, especially in team settings.

What Is Kolbe?

The Kolbe Index, by contrast, measures conation—how a person instinctively takes action when faced with a task. It focuses on four modes of operation:

• Fact Finder: How a person gathers and shares information
• Follow Thru: How a person organizes and designs systems
• Quick Start: How a person deals with risk and innovation
• Implementor: How a person handles physical space and tangible tools

Where DISC explains how people relate to others, Kolbe explains how people solve problems. This is particularly valuable when assigning roles, setting expectations, and managing workflow.

Using DISC and Kolbe Together

The power of these assessments isn’t just in the individual scores—it’s in how you apply them. When used together, DISC and Kolbe provide a holistic view of your team:

• DISC helps leaders coach more effectively, manage conflict, and improve team communication.
• Kolbe helps leaders assign tasks that align with an employee’s natural strengths and reduce the risk of burnout.

For example, you may have two employees who are both high “D” on the DISC profile—assertive and competitive—but one may be a high Follow Thru on Kolbe (needing structure) while the other is a high Quick Start (thrives on improvisation). That insight allows you to manage each employee differently, even if they appear similar at first glance.

Benefits of Integrating Assessments into Talent Management

• Better Hiring Decisions: Align candidates with the role beyond just skills and experience
• Stronger Team Collaboration: Understand how teammates complement or clash with one another
• Personalized Development: Tailor training and feedback based on how employees best process and apply information
• Reduced Turnover: Employees who are in roles suited to their natural behaviors and instincts are more likely to stay engaged

Final Thoughts

Your people are your greatest asset—but only if you truly understand what drives them. DISC and Kolbe assessments give small business leaders the insight they need to hire wisely, manage effectively, and retain top talent.

At Behney Management Strategies, we help business owners implement these tools as part of a broader talent strategy that aligns with company goals and culture. If you’re ready to take a smarter approach to managing your team, we’re here to help.

Behney Management Strategies – Small Business, Big Goals.

WRITTEN BY

David Behney, Founder & CEO

David Behney is the Founder and CEO of Behney Management Strategies, where he helps small businesses achieve their big goals through expert C-suite consulting. With a background in fractional CFO services, David now provides strategic guidance across finance, operations, marketing, and technology to businesses with $1M–$30M in revenue. Passionate about driving growth and sustainability, he partners with business leaders to build strong foundations and navigate challenges. Connect with David to take your business to the next level.