Blog

Kolbe and DJing: Understanding Your Natural Drive

The Kolbe system is a psychometric tool that identifies how you naturally act under stress. In the world of DJing, ‘stress’ can be seen as the performance itself, and Kolbe helps understand a DJ’s natural drive or reaction to stress.

Unlike personality tests or assessments that measure skills, Kolbe focuses on your instinctive drives—what you’re naturally inclined to do and how you approach tasks.

This 10-minute assessment offers profound insights into your unique strengths and working style, revealing instinctive reactive behaviour that is fully formed by the age of six and never changes!

I am always super geeky on that fact as it’s pretty amazing to think there’s a core of our behaviour that we can’t control, and it’s been with us from such early time of our lives.

This 10-minute assessment offers phenomenal insights into your unique strengths and working style.

For DJs, understanding your Kolbe profile can illuminate why you approach your craft in a particular way, highlighting differences in preparation, performance, and style.

By embracing these insights, we can better collaborate, appreciate diversity, and harness our natural strengths for creative breakthroughs.

The Four Kolbe Action Modes in DJing

Kolbe identifies four instinctive Action Modes—Fact Finder, Follow Through, Quick Start, and Implementor—each representing a different way of taking action. All of us will have one of these predominate strengths:

Here’s how these modes manifest in the world of DJing:

1. Fact Finders:

• Fact Finders are driven by a need to gather information and analyse details. As DJs, they are likely to:
• Collect extensive knowledge about genres, artists, and music history.
• Use past insights to build future sets and make informed decisions.
• Spend time meticulously organising their track library and researching the latest gear or techniques.
• Example: A Fact Finder might spend hours reading forums, watching tutorials, and preparing playlists before stepping onto the stage.

1. Follow Through:

• People who have a predominant Follow Through strength excel at creating systems and structures. Their DJing approach often includes:
• Developing a systematic process for downloading, tagging, and organising tracks.
• Preparing detailed grids and cue points for each track.
• Running thorough equipment checks, ensuring everything is flawless before starting.
• Example: A Follow Through DJ might have a highly organised library and a step-by-step pre-gig routine that ensures they’re fully prepared.

1. Quick Starts:

• Quick Starts thrive on spontaneity, risk-taking, and innovation. In DJing, this looks like:
• Jumping into gigs with minimal preparation, relying on their intuition and creativity.
• Experimenting with bold transitions and mixing styles.
• Thriving in high-energy environments where improvisation is key.
• Example: A Quick Start might skip sound checks, dive into a set with a “let’s see what happens” mindset, and captivate the crowd with their dynamic energy.

1. Implementors:

• Implementors prefer hands-on, tangible interaction with the world. In DJing, they often:
• Gravitate toward physical formats like vinyl over digital tools.
• Enjoy tinkering with gear, setting up turntables, or modifying equipment.
• Appreciate the tactile aspects of their craft, such as beatmatching by ear.
• Example: An Implementor might prefer the “feel” of vinyl and enjoy the physical process of crate digging over scrolling through a digital library.

Celebrating Differences in DJing Styles

The beauty of DJing lies in its diversity.

Some DJs meticulously prepare with detailed grids and transitions, while others thrive on quick cuts and high-energy tricks.

Some swear by the authenticity of vinyl, while others push boundaries with digital setups.

These differences often lead to debates about “right” and “wrong” approaches, but Kolbe shows us that these preferences stem from our natural drives.

Understanding the psychology behind our instincts allows us to appreciate and respect each other’s strengths. For example:

• A Fact Finder’s deep research ensures that every track in their set has meaning and context.
• A Follow Through DJ’s systematic preparation guarantees seamless performances.
• A Quick Start’s spontaneity keeps the crowd on their toes with unexpected transitions.
• An Implementor’s need to work with tangible materials brings a unique authenticity to their sets.

Why Kolbe Matters for DJs

I’ve been a qualified coach and Kolbe consultant since 2018, working with more than 500 individuals in the UK and US.

My experience has shown me that understanding your natural drive can lead to artistic breakthroughs. For DJs, this means:

1. Playing to Your Strengths: Knowing your Kolbe profile helps you focus on what you’re naturally good at, whether that’s preparation, innovation, or physical interaction.
2. Collaborating Effectively: Recognising the strengths of others allows for better teamwork and less friction, especially in duo sets or collective projects.
3. Reducing Frustration: Understanding why you approach tasks differently from others reduces unnecessary conflict and self-doubt.
4. Improving Performance: Aligning your workflow with your instincts leads to more enjoyable and authentic performances.
5. Finding Your Niche: By embracing your natural tendencies, you can carve out a unique identity in the competitive world of DJing.

Conclusion

Kolbe is a framework for understanding the incredible diversity within the DJ community.

By identifying and respecting our natural drives, we can elevate our craft, connect more authentically with others, and create music that reflects who we truly are.

Whether you’re a meticulous planner or an intuitive risk-taker, your Kolbe profile is a key to unlocking your potential. Let’s understand our differences and let them shine in the music instead of arguing over “vinyl over digital”.