What’s Your Genius?
“Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them: if prophesy, in proportion to the faith; if ministry, in ministering; if one is a teacher, in teaching; if one exhorts, in exhortation; if one contributes, in generosity; if one is over others, with diligence; if one does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness” (Romans 12:6-8).
Everyone has natural, God-given talents, but when it comes to the workplace, many people have difficulty identifying their gifts and how they can benefit their team. As a result, they do not do the type of work that gives them happiness and energy. Individuals who do not tap into their true genius are likely to have difficulty realizing their full potential and may find themselves in draining and dispiriting jobs.They may lack confidence and enthusiasm for life.
Patrick Lencioni’s Working Genius model can help such people unlock their full potential in the workplace. The Working Genius assessment intrigued me because it resonated with my desire to align my work with my passions and strengths. It shattered the limitations I had unknowingly imposed on myself. By discovering my working geniuses, I gained valuable insights into my natural inclinations, talents, and passions. It enabled me to recognize the areas where I thrive, where I find joy and fulfillment, and where I can make the most significant impact. The assessment acted as a mirror, reflecting my innate abilities and empowering me to make intentional choices that align with my strengths.
Moreover, the Working Genius assessment helped me understand my blind spots and areas for growth. It provided a roadmap for self-improvement, showing me where I could refine my skills and cultivate new ones. Each one of us possesses untapped potential, waiting to be explored and leveraged to create a meaningful and purpose-driven life.
What Is the Working Genius Model?
Patrick Lencioni is the founder and president of The Table Group, Inc., a specialized management consulting firm focused on executive team development and improving organizational health by helping organizations become healthier and more effective. He is a lifelong Catholic who, after more than 20 years in business, decided to spend more of his time and energy serving the Church.
The Working Genius model is based on the idea that there are six natural inclinations when it comes to using gifts in the workplace and that by identifying our inclinations, we can better understand our strengths and weaknesses at work. Of the six inclinations, each of us has two that are our true “working geniuses,” gifts that give us joy, energy, and passion. Another two are our “working frustrations,” activities that rob us of joy and energy. Most of us are not very skilled in these areas. The final two are referred to as “working competencies,” activities that neither feed nor drain us and that we can do fairly well for a limited period.
The six types of working genius form an interdependent model, a comprehensive process for accomplishing any type of work. Each type of genius receives and gives something to adjacent types, creating a natural workflow starting with wonder and culminating in tenacity.
The Six Working Geniuses
Wonder
Wonder is the ability to ask “what if?” questions and to think creatively about new ideas and possibilities. Individuals with this inclination are often good at brainstorming and generating new concepts.
Invention
Invention is the ability to turn new ideas into reality. Individuals with this inclination are great at problem-solving and finding innovative solutions to complex problems.
Discernment
Discernment is the ability to make sound judgments and decisions based on data and information. Individuals with this inclination are often great at analyzing situations and weighing the pros and cons of different options.
Galvanizing
Galvanizing is the ability to rally a team around a shared vision or goal. Individuals with this inclination are often great at inspiring others and creating a sense of purpose and motivation.
Enablement
Enablement is the ability to help others achieve their full potential. Individuals with this inclination are often great at coaching and mentoring others and helping them develop their strengths and skills.
Tenacity
Tenacity is the ability to persevere through challenges and setbacks. Individuals with this inclination are often great at staying focused on the goal and pushing through difficult times.
Applying Your Working Genius
It is disheartening to think that many people are stuck in jobs that do not align with their gifts. It’s even worse to know that many of them do not know why they are miserable. Individuals who fully embrace the power of this model can experience greater levels of self-awareness; increase their joy, fulfillment, and productivity; and decrease unnecessary guilt and judgment.
How you use your Working Genius results will depend on where you are in your work and life and why you decided to take the assessment in the first place. Here are some possibilities:
Working From Your Genius
Evaluate your personal and professional life.
Identify how you can more effectively lean into your working geniuses and do less work in your working frustrations.
Consider how you schedule your work to tackle competency- or frustration-related activities when you have more energy.
Identify when you are doing work outside your geniuses so that you can be aware and intentional about your energy levels.
Lean on the people around you for input and ask for help in areas outside your geniuses.
Share Your Results With Others
Imagine how your relationships could improve if you and the people you care about clearly understood one another’s geniuses and frustrations.
Start by telling others (family, friends, co-workers, and team members) what you discovered about yourself.
Invite them to take the Working Genius Assessment and review your results with one another.
Discuss how you might help one another use your geniuses and avoid your frustrations.
Offer to use your working geniuses to help others.
Use the Working Genius Model as a Team
Teams that embrace this model can experience greater levels of trust, increase morale and productivity, have better meetings, and become more successful in hiring the right people.
The Working Genius model is an excellent tool for understanding your strengths and weaknesses in the workplace. By identifying your natural inclinations, you can unlock your full potential, feel more fulfilled in your work, and build stronger connections with your team. If you’re looking to tap into your inner genius and make the most of your abilities, the Working Genius model is worth exploring in order to tap into your God-given gifts and talents.
“[The Lord] has filled him with a divine spirit of skill and understanding and knowledge in every craft” (Exodus 35:31).
Shivonne Sant-Solomon is a wife and mother of two, blessed with the responsibility of raising them in this dynamic world! In all of her work, and in her most important roles as mother and wife, her relationship with God has been and continues to be central, as she is first and foremost a child of God. Over the past 19 years, Shivonne has had the opportunity to work in a variety of commercial roles within the energy industry, as well as assuming the role of a stay-at-home mother to her then-younger kids for three years—a transformational experience indeed, and one where the challenges and due respect are saluted and applauded. As Shivonne continues along her spiritual and professional growth and development paths, she seeks out opportunities to share her faith and contribute and support the achievement of the world’s energy transition goals in caring for God’s creation.