• Twitter
  • LinkedIn
(503) 212-0687 | hello@cascadeinsights.com
Cascade Insights
  • Market Research Services
    • B2B Customer Experience Research
      • Buyer Personas
      • Buyer’s Journey Research
      • Key Buying Criteria Research
      • Jobs-To-Be-Done Research
      • User Personas
      • Customer Satisfaction Research
    • B2B Product/Service Research
      • Market Opportunity Research
      • Concept Testing
      • Go-To-Market Research
    • B2B Marketing Enablement Research
      • Data-Driven Marketing Research
      • Message Testing
      • Brand Research
      • Thought Leadership Services
      • Partner Enablement
    • B2B Sales Enablement Research
      • Competitive Landscape Analysis
      • Win-Loss Research
      • Churn Analysis
      • Channel Research
  • Marketing Services
    • Marketing Strategy
    • Messaging
    • Content Marketing
    • Sales Enablement
  • Insights and Perspectives
    • B2B Market Research Blog
    • B2B Marketing Blog
    • B2B Resources
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Our Clients
    • Client Testimonials
    • Careers
    • Ethics Policy
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
Hire Better: Know Your Team's Core Values

Hire Better: Know Your Team’s Core Values

May 30, 2018/in Blog Posts /by Trevor Gilbert
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail

Apple PodcastsSubscribe to B2B Revealed on Google PlaySubscribe to B2B Revealed on StitcherSubscribe to B2B Revealed on Soundcloud

Do you have the wrong people in the wrong roles? You have two options: resign yourself to mediocrity or rethink how you manage your team.

In the latest episode of the B2B Revealed Podcast, host Sean Campbell interviewed Dan Cox, CEO of EXOS Advisors. A long-time executive coach and expert in talent management, Cox shared his experiences using the Core Values Index (CVI) to help companies optimize their workforces.

Does The Predisposition Suit The Position?

Cox has spent years working with leadership teams to help them find solutions to what’s hurting their productivity. To do this, he relies on the CVI: an assessment of peoples’ core values.

According to Cox, research has shown that peoples’ core values rarely change over time. As a result, the test goes beyond mere personality or behavioral tests like Myers-Briggs.

Practically speaking, this test helps companies figure out if they have people in roles where they can make their most significant contribution.

It can also show if there’s a misalignment between someone’s core values and motivators with their current role. According to Cox, this is a common problem. He believes a majority of the workforce is ill-suited to their positions.

For example, companies may misguidedly hire problem solvers in roles that have no problem-solving needs. Or, they may put people who thrive with fixed processes in creative positions that require a high degree of flexibility.

What are your Core Values?

The CVI defines four core value personas: the Innovator, the Banker, the Builder, and the Merchant. Each of these pairs with a

Dan is CEO & Managing Advisor at EXOS Advisors.

“core energy.” Innovators are guided by wisdom, bankers by knowledge. Builders are motivated by power, and merchants are driven by love. You can find out more about these values here.

 

The CVI reveals the types of roles employees are predisposed to excel at. For example, Cox shared the findings of a CVI assessment implemented at a wastewater plant in California. The plant discovered that the 10-person maintenance team was made up of innovators who prized creative problem-solving. “The Achilles’ heel of the problem solver is that they will continue to solve problems, even when there are no problems to be solved,” Cox said.

Since the preventative maintenance central to the job required very little problem-solving, this was a clear misalignment. Further, the maintenance workers were unhappy in their positions since they weren’t able to meaningfully contribute their core strengths.

Meanwhile, the company had twice as many people as it needed to get the job done. All the company required was a few people who thrived with checklists. Instead, they had an unwieldy team spending the bulk of their time seeking out problems to solve.

Firing Isn’t the Only Option

Once a misalignment is evident, companies have to make some tough choices. Should companies leave employees in roles they aren’t wired to do or lay them off? Neither, according to Cox.

Instead, a more holistic approach is needed. Companies need to rethink their hiring processes to make sure they’re getting the right people in the right roles from the start. They should also look for ways to allow current employees to draw on their core values in their work. This may require some reshuffling of roles and responsibilities. Most companies find ways to give misaligned employees better-suited jobs in the same organization.

To Fire or Not to Fire: Tis Not the Question

Getting the right people in the right roles doesn’t just serve efficiency and profits. Cox ultimately sees it as a “humanitarian effort.” If the CVI can help people find roles that make them happy while furthering the companies’ goals, it’s a win for everyone.

The B2B Revealed Podcast is brought to you by Cascade Insights, a market research firm specializing in B2B technology. Need more B2B brilliance? There are many ways to follow us.

Get in touch

"*" indicates required fields

Name
Cascade Insights will never share your information with third parties. View our privacy policy.
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • Bio
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Latest Posts
Trevor Gilbert

Trevor Gilbert

Podcast Producer
Trevor Gilbert

@trevoragilbert

Trevor Gilbert
Trevor Gilbert

Latest posts by Trevor Gilbert (see all)

  • Voice-Centric Marketing - March 8, 2019
  • The Rebel’s Role - February 20, 2019
  • Podcasts and the Trouble with Conversion Optimization - February 19, 2019
  • Bio
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Latest Posts
Sean Campbell

Sean Campbell

CEO
Sean Campbell is the CEO of Cascade Insights, a competitive intelligence and market research firm for B2B technology companies. A 20-year technology veteran, Sean oversees the health of the firm, drives the company’s thought leadership efforts and maintains relationships with key clients.
Sean Campbell

@sean_campbell

Sean Campbell
Sean Campbell

Latest posts by Sean Campbell (see all)

  • B2B Market Research: Exposing the Truth - August 23, 2022
  • B2B Focus Groups: Virtual for the Win - June 7, 2022
  • B2B Buyer’s Journey: Buyers and Marketers in the Blender - March 8, 2022
Tags: B2B Revealed, core values, core values index, cvi, dan cox, executive coach, hiring, human capital, managers, podcast, Sean Campbell, talent management, workforce
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail
You might also like
The Spy Who Wasn't: Clarifying Competitive IntelligenceThe Spy Who Wasn’t – Clarifying Competitive Intelligence
Podcasts and the Trouble with Conversion OptimizationPodcasts and the Trouble with Conversion Optimization
Teams: Better With TimeTeams: Better With Time
B2B Revealed: The Transparent Seller | B2B SalesThe Transparent Seller
Data's Cold EmbraceData’s Cold Embrace
Message Testing: Because Intent ≠ InterpretationMessage Testing: Because Intent ≠ Interpretation
customer satisfaction researchPeople-Centric Marketing: Wisdom From Tom Shoemaker
Channel SalesCoaching Your Channel: An Interview With Steve Smith

GET IN TOUCH

hello@cascadeinsights.com

(503) 898-0004

WHAT WE DO

Market Research Services
Marketing Services
Subscribeto RSS Feed

Blog Categories

  • B2B Buyer Persona Research
  • B2B Channel Market Research
  • B2B Churn Analysis
  • B2B Competitive Landscape Analysis
  • B2B Customer Experience Research
  • B2B Customer Journey Mapping
  • B2B Go-To-Market Research
  • B2B Market Opportunity Research
  • B2B Market Research Blog
  • B2B Market Segmentation Research
  • B2B Marketing Blog
    • Uncategorized
  • B2B Messaging
  • B2B New Product Launch Research
  • B2B Thought Leadership
  • B2B Usability Testing
  • Brand Research
  • Concept Testing
  • Content Marketing
  • Customer Satisfaction Research
  • Data-Driven Marketing Research
  • Jobs-To-Be-Done
  • Key Buying Criteria
  • Marketing Enablement
  • Marketing Strategy
  • Message Testing Research
  • Partner Enablement
  • Product/Service Research
  • Sales Enablement Marketing
  • Sales Enablement Research
  • User Personas
  • Videos
  • Win/Loss Analysis

Written by

Trevor Gilbert
Trevor Gilbert
Sean Campbell
Sean Campbell

RECENT POSTS

  1. Shoot For The Moon (Within Reason)
  2. B2B PR: The Blurring of Business & Politics
  3. Ready to Book It? Probably Not
  4. Creative Teams Need a Reliable Protector

Connect With Us

503.212.0687

hello@cascadeinsights.com

  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

B2B Market Research

  • Customer Experience Research
  • — Buyer Persona Research
  • — Buyer's Journey Research
  • — Key Buying Criteria Research
  • — Jobs-To-Be-Done Research
  • — User Personas
  • — Customer Satisfaction Research

  • B2B Product/Service Research
  • — Market Opportunity Research
  • — Concept Testing
  • — Go-To-Market Research

  • Marketing Enablement Research
  • — B2B Data-Driven Marketing Research
  • — Message Testing
  • — Brand Research
  • — Thought Leadership
  • — Partner Enablement

  • Sales Enablement Research
  • — Competitive Landscape Analysis
  • — Win Loss Analysis
  • — Churn Analysis
  • — Channel Research

B2B Marketing

  • — B2B Marketing Strategy
  • — B2B Messaging Services
  • — B2B Content Marketing
  • — B2B Sales Enablement

About Us

  • — Our Story
  • — Our Clients
  • — Client Testimonials
  • — Careers
  • — Ethics Policy
  • — Privacy Policy

Blogs

  • — B2B Market Research Blog
  • — B2B Marketing Blog
  • — Cascade Insights Blog
Cascade Insights is proud to be a member of the Inc. 5000.
Boardroom Diplomacy: Marketing Needs AlliesBoardroom Diplomacy: Marketing Needs AlliesReady to Book It? Probably NotReady to Book It? Probably Not
Scroll to top