Fix the Friction: How to Align Teams for Better Performance
EP297 of Profit With A Plan Podcast
Release date: April 8, 2025
Guest: Vikki Kempker, Workplace Strengths Strategist and founder of TeamAlign Method™
Host: Marcia Riner, Business Growth Strategist, CEO of Infinite Profit®
Episode Summary:
Hiring talented people is only half the battle—aligning them in the right roles is the real key to performance. In this episode of Profit with a Plan, Marcia Riner welcomes Vikki Kempker, Workplace Strengths Strategist and creator of the TeamAlign Method™, to discuss how hidden misalignments can quietly derail your team’s success.
Using the Kolbe Index and her proprietary L.E.A.D. Framework, Vikki helps leaders pinpoint how team members naturally take action and solve problems—and then build roles and collaboration around those innate strengths. The result? Less Burnout, fewer bottlenecks, and more consistent execution.
🔑 Key Takeaways with Timestamps:
[00:02:36] – Why Good Hires Fail: Vikki shares her story of being promoted into a role that was out of alignment with her strengths—and how it sparked her passion for helping others avoid the same trap.
[00:06:49] – The Real Reason Your Team Feels Stuck: Learn how teams can be full of talent but still underperform due to natural working style mismatches.
[00:07:58] – Misalignment in the Hiring Process: Discover how candidates who interview well may still be the wrong fit for the job—and how Kolbe can help fix that.
[00:10:55] – Frustration is a Signal: How minor misunderstandings and missed expectations can lead to turnover if strengths aren’t aligned.
[00:12:11] – Why Strengths Don’t Change: Vikki explains how Kolbe captures instinctive behaviors that stay consistent throughout life—and why that’s powerful in business planning.
[00:16:38] – It’s Not Too Late: Whether you’re building your team now or managing a long-standing crew, you can still implement strengths-based alignment and see results.
[00:21:17] – Tools for Better Team Communication: Learn how comparing two Kolbe profiles can instantly improve collaboration and reduce tension.
[00:24:00] – The Hiring Advantage: How to use Kolbe assessments during the hiring process to predict whether a candidate will thrive in the role.
[00:25:36] – Vikki’s L.E.A.D. Framework™:
Learn team strengths
Expose misalignments
Align people with roles and each other
Drive productivity through better collaboration
[00:27:18] – Scaling Through Culture: Why integrating alignment into your company culture can supercharge growth and make leadership easier.
[00:29:00] – Disengagement and Burnout: The hidden costs of poor alignment and why so many employees are quietly quitting.
👤 Connect with Guest Vikki Kempker:
Website: www.vikkikempker.com
Email: align@vikkikempker.com
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👤 About Marcia Riner
Marcia Riner is a business growth strategist who helps entrepreneurs scale smarter, increase profitability, and maximize business value. As CEO of Infinite Profit® and creator of the Profit Booster® strategies, she goes beyond advice—working alongside business owners to implement proven strategies that strengthen financial stability, optimize operations, and drive long-term success.
Whether you’re looking to boost profits, expand, or prepare for a high-value exit, Marcia delivers the expertise and hands-on support to make it happen. Learn more at InfiniteProfitConsulting.com.
Got questions? Reach out to Marcia and her team at (949) 229-2112 ♾️
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