Unleash Your Team's Genius with the Working Genius Model

We all have natural gifts and when we better understand our unique strengths and frustrations, the transformation we see in our work and life is amazing. You may already be familiar with The Working Genius model, by Patrick Lencioni, and it is often one of the first assessments that I use with all my clients. It goes beyond just identifying your working geniuses or frustrations - it also helps you understand how they either fuel your energy and motivation or take away from it. By recognizing the specific types of work that bring you joy and excitement, you can harness that energy to achieve peak performance.

In its most simplistic form, the Working Genius model identifies six types of working genius or frustrations. Your geniuses fuel your energy and your frustrations take away from it. These are:

Wonder: This type of genius is skilled at asking questions and exploring new possibilities. They are curious and have a natural ability to see the bigger picture.

Invention: This genius is creative and innovative. They excel at generating new ideas and finding unique solutions to problems.

Discernment: This genius has a keen eye for detail and is skilled at making judgments and decisions. They can analyze information and weigh different options effectively.

Galvanizing: This genius is a natural leader who can rally others around a common goal or vision. They inspire and motivate their team members to achieve greatness.

Enablement: This genius is excellent at supporting others and helping them succeed. They provide the necessary resources, guidance, and encouragement for individuals or teams to thrive.

Tenacity: This genius possesses exceptional perseverance and determination. They have the ability to push through challenges and obstacles with unwavering resolve.

Why is understanding your working geniuses and frustrations so important? Individuals and teams are better equipped to focus on tasks and projects that align with their natural abilities, leading to:

Increased Productivity: When you understand your unique strengths, you can focus more on tasks that align with your areas of genius. This leads to increased energy and productivity as you are doing what you love and are naturally good at.

Improved Collaboration: By understanding the unique geniuses of each leadership team member, teams can benefit from improved trust and cohesion for more effective collaboration.

Enhanced Job Satisfaction: When you're able to work in your area of genius, job satisfaction naturally increases and you feel valued and successful.

Leadership Genius Gap Awareness: Being aware of the specific skills and strengths that are missing from your team is crucial for effective leadership. This awareness enables you to understand what qualities to prioritize when recruiting new members.

The Working Genius assessment offers a valuable tool for individuals and teams to maximize their potential. By understanding and leveraging their unique strengths, individuals can focus on tasks that align with their areas of genius, leading to increased productivity and job satisfaction. It allows teams to collaborate more effectively by recognizing and utilizing each team member's unique genius. The Working Genius assessment promotes a work environment where individuals and teams can thrive and succeed. 

Contact me if you are interested in learning more.

Insights for the Second Half of 2023

We are at the end of our second quarter, 50% through 2023. What a year it's been!

As we move into the second half of the year, how are you elevating your business and continuing the momentum you gained in the first half.

1. Clarity - How has your vision been clarified?

• What have you learned in customer conversations over the last couple of months?

• What are the key trends that are creating new opportunities for you?

• How can you add additional value for those you serve?

2. Commitments - What is showing up for you related to your commitments?

Where are you seeing even greater results than you expected? As you look ahead to the second half of the year, what new commitments or reinforced commitments are you making related to:

• Your Health?

• Key Relationships?

• Your Senior Team

• Your Customers

• Your Community

• What are you no longer going to tolerate?

3. Calendar - How are you leveraging your calendar to allocate your time towards the things that matter most to you and give you the most energy?

We have a limited amount of time in a day. One major trend that we are seeing is the exhaustion and tiredness experienced by many exceptional leaders.

It is so important that we utilize the summer period to replenish our energy, rejuvenate ourselves, and contemplate the various new possibilities that lie ahead. Additionally, we need to maintain our commitment to investing in our senior team and ensuring that we have the right people in the right seats, individuals who also share the same passion for the culture we have fostered—a culture that strives to make a positive impact for the greater good.

4. Communication - Are you engaging with your team and your larger organization effectively?

Frequent communication with your team and your larger organization is crucial to success. A great way to do that is to ensure that your meetings with your senior team end with these four questions.

1. What did we decide?

2. Who will do what? And by when?

3. What do we need to cascade? Who needs to know?

4. What won't we share? Are these topics highly confidential or has it been aligned at the senior team level?

These learnings come from my most recent work to become certified in Patrick Lencioni's Working Genius model.

The benefits of the Working Genius model for both individuals leaders and your team include clarity on their unique professional gifts, greater engagement with the team and a way to build trust through vulnerability and better understanding of fellow team members.

I'm happy to share this assessment with anyone, if you're interested please reach out!

Warmest Regards,

Ethan & the PFD Team