What’s your genius?

Do you know your two working geniuses?

The Working Genius is Patrick Lencioni’s model for identifying those talents in the workplace that fill us with joy and energy when properly utilized. We all know when time seems to move quickly and almost feels like we aren’t “working”. We also know there are chunks of our day that seem to quickly drain us of our enthusiasm. Do you know what brings you joy and energy during your day? Can you put specific language to it?

There are 6 types of Working Genius.

We all have 2 geniuses that bring us joy and energy as we add value to our team and work. We also have 2 geniuses that are neutral – they neither bring us joy nor do they drain us of our energy. And we have 2 geniuses that are considered working frustrations; when we spend large amounts of time on these pursuits, we exponentially drain ourselves.

What brings you joy and energy in your workplace?

Which projects or tasks are so enjoyable that you sometimes lose track of time? What tasks drain you of your enthusiasm so much that you tend to avoid these tasks? Wouldn’t it be helpful to have language around these items so that you could communicate with those around you?

Leadership teams around the world have new members that are learning to work together. Learning each other’s geniuses – both the ones that bring joy and energy and the ones that drain us—is very beneficial to the productivity and health of the team. Having simple and specific language around the 6 types of genius can help teams communicate clearly and effectively and lean into one another’s strengths.

The 6 types of Working Genius are found in the acronym WIDGET. Curious?