Quality Improvement Zone

Kahler's 5 Drivers is commonly used to support communication, teamwork and leadership by encouraging discussion about different working styles and preferences.

The model proposes five common drivers:

• Be Perfect
• Be Strong
• Please People
• Try Hard
• Hurry Up

People often identify with more than one driver, and the tool is intended to support reflection and discussion rather than place people into fixed categories. Results provide a starting point for self-awareness and learning rather than a definitive description of an individual.

Improvement work relies on people with different perspectives, experiences and working styles collaborating effectively. Greater self-awareness can help individuals and teams communicate more effectively, navigate differences and create the conditions for successful improvement.

Kahler's 5 Drivers can help individuals and teams better understand their own preferences and the different ways people may respond to challenge, pressure, change and collaboration.

Using the tool can help you:

• increase self-awareness and personal insight
• understand different working and communication styles
• improve collaboration within teams
• build psychological safety through greater understanding of differences
• support constructive challenge and discussion
• strengthen leadership and relationship-building skills
• improve communication during change and improvement work

The value of the tool comes less from the scores themselves and more from the reflection and discussion it encourages.

The tool works best as part of a reflective exercise or facilitated team discussion. The aim is to support understanding and learning rather than assess performance or label individuals.

1. Complete the questionnaire

Complete the questionnaire from the resources below, following the instructions provided. The resulting scores provide an indication of which drivers may be more prominent for you.

2. Review your results

Review your profile and consider whether the descriptions resonate with your experiences and behaviours. Most people will recognise aspects of more than one driver.

3. Reflect on strengths and challenges

Consider:

• How do these drivers help you in your role?
• When might they become less helpful?
• How might they influence your communication and decision-making?

4. Share insights if appropriate

If using the tool as part of a team activity, participants may choose to share aspects of their results. This can help build understanding of different working styles and preferences.

5. Discuss implications for team working

Explore questions such as:

• How do we like to communicate?
• What helps us work effectively together?
• Where might misunderstandings arise?
• How can we make better use of our different strengths?

6. Agree practical actions

Identify any actions that could improve collaboration, communication or team effectiveness. These may relate to meeting practices, decision-making, feedback or ways of working.