“Discovering the Synergy of Team Dynamics: Insights from the Six Types of Working Genius”

There’s a moment every team recognizes, even if no one names it. The meeting ends, but the energy lingers—a silence after a burst of new ideas, a tension that creeps in when deadlines loom, or a sense of unease when a project stalls. The project manager feels the weight of stalled momentum, the creative wonders why their spark fizzled, and the leader sits quietly, sensing something is off but unable to put a finger on it. It’s not about skill or talent; everyone is capable, even brilliant. Yet, something invisible shapes the flow of work, the trust between individuals, and the team’s ability to move from idea to execution. This is the hidden world of team dynamics, and understanding it is the key to unlocking greater potential.

When the Room Feels Off, but No One Says Why

Every team has felt it: the subtle current beneath the surface, the unspoken questions, the moments when energy drains and no one knows why. Maybe you’ve left a meeting with more questions than answers, or watched a high-potential team stall for reasons no one can quite name. These are not just moments of working frustration—they are signals that something deeper is at play. The 6 types of working genius, developed by Patrick Lencioni and the Table Group, offer a new language for understanding these moments. When you see your team through this lens, you begin to notice the patterns: who brings new ideas, who asks the tough questions, who rallies the group, and who ensures the finish line is crossed. If this resonates, you’re not alone. The story of your team is waiting to be rewritten, and the 6 types of working genius are the key.

The Hidden Cost of Unseen Dynamics

Every team carries an unspoken ledger—a tally of energy gained and lost, of ideas that soar and those that quietly wither. When the underlying dynamics go unexamined, the cost is rarely immediate or dramatic. Instead, it accumulates in the margins: the project that never finds its rhythm, the talent that quietly disengages, the leader who wonders if they’re missing something essential. Over time, these small fractures become fault lines, eroding trust and sapping the team’s collective potential. Research from the Table Group shows that teams with high psychological safety and a clear understanding of individual strengths consistently outperform those that rely on raw talent alone. Yet, most teams operate with only a partial map—aware of roles and responsibilities, but blind to the deeper patterns that drive motivation and collaboration. The result? Misunderstandings masquerade as personality clashes. Burnout is mistaken for lack of commitment. Innovation stalls, not for lack of new ideas, but for lack of alignment. This matters because the stakes are more than just missed deadlines or lackluster results. When a team’s working genius goes unrecognized, people begin to question their own value. The room grows quieter. Initiative fades. The very qualities that make each member unique become sources of friction rather than fuel. But when these dynamics are brought into the light—when each person’s genius is named and honored—the team’s energy shifts. What once felt like resistance becomes resonance. The work, and the people doing it, come alive. This is the promise of the 6 types of working genius: a path to greater potential, fulfillment, and increased productivity.

Unveiling the 6 Types of Working Genius: The Language of Team Alchemy

Imagine your team as a living ecosystem—each member a vital element, each contribution a unique form of energy. The 6 types of working genius, as described by Patrick Lencioni and the Table Group, offer a new lens for seeing this ecosystem in full color. This isn’t just another personality test or a box to check in a team-building workshop. It’s a map of how work actually gets done—how ideas are born, shaped, launched, and sustained. The six types—Wonder, Discernment, Galvanizing, Enablement, Tenacity, and Invention—aren’t just labels. They’re the essential ingredients in the recipe of progress. Each one answers a different question, solves a different problem, and brings a different kind of spark to the table. When a team understands which genius each member brings, the invisible currents become visible. Suddenly, the moments of friction make sense. The gaps are no longer mysteries—they’re invitations.

Consider the story of a product team at Vitaspark. On paper, they had everything: technical prowess, creative thinkers, a clear mission. Yet, every project seemed to stall in the same place—right after the initial brainstorm. Ideas would pour out, but momentum would fade. Frustration simmered. It wasn’t until they mapped their types of working genius that the pattern emerged: the team was rich in Invention and Wonder, but lacked Galvanizing and Tenacity. They could dream and ideate, but struggled to rally around a plan and see it through. Once they named this, everything shifted. They brought in a project manager whose genius was Galvanizing, and suddenly, the energy changed. Meetings became action-oriented. Ideas didn’t just float—they flew. The working genius model, as outlined by Pat Lencioni, is not about labeling individuals, but about understanding the unique way each person contributes to work. The Table Group team has seen this model transform organizations, from Orangetheory Fitness to startups led by disruptive geniuses like Andrew Laffoon. When the 6 types are honored, teams experience increased productivity, higher morale, and a sense of true genius at work.

From Blind Spots to Brilliance: Reframing Team Friction

It’s easy to misinterpret what we don’t understand. The colleague who always asks “why” can seem like a skeptic, slowing things down. The one who pushes for action might feel impatient, even abrasive. But through the lens of the 6 types of working genius, these aren’t flaws—they’re vital roles. The friction isn’t a sign of dysfunction; it’s a clue that a particular genius is either missing or misunderstood. Take the Enablement genius—the quiet force that turns vision into reality by supporting others. In one leadership team, the absence of Enablement led to a cycle of brilliant plans that never left the whiteboard. The leaders, all high in Invention and Tenacity, prided themselves on grit and creativity, but overlooked the need for support and buy-in. Once they recognized this gap, they invited team members with Enablement genius into the process earlier. The result? Projects moved from idea to execution with less resistance and more shared ownership.

This is the shift: seeing what’s missing not as a deficit, but as an opportunity. When teams stop pathologizing their pain points and start mapping their types of working genius, the narrative changes. The question is no longer “What’s wrong with us?” but “What genius are we missing—and how can we invite it in?” This reframing is at the heart of the working genius framework, and it’s what allows teams to move from working frustration to working competency, from friction to fulfillment. The working genius assessment, especially when guided by a certified working genius facilitator, can be the catalyst for this transformation. The Table Group team and organizations like Orangetheory Fitness have seen firsthand how the 6 types of working genius can turn working frustrations into working competencies, and working competency into true genius at work.

The Synergy Effect: When Genius Becomes Collective Power

The real magic happens when a team moves from individual awareness to collective synergy. It’s not enough to know your own genius; the transformation comes when each person’s strengths are woven together, intentionally and openly. This is where the 6 types of working genius becomes more than a framework—it becomes a shared language, a way to honor difference and design for wholeness. In high-performing teams, you’ll notice a rhythm: Wonder and Discernment spark the right questions and filter the best ideas. Invention brings new solutions. Galvanizing rallies the group, Enablement clears the path, and Tenacity ensures the finish line is crossed. When all six types are present and valued, work flows. Trust deepens. The team becomes more than the sum of its parts.

But this synergy isn’t accidental. It requires courage—the courage to name what’s missing, to invite new voices, to let go of the myth that one person should do it all. It’s a practice, not a destination. And it starts with a single, radical act: seeing each other’s genius, and choosing to build with it, not around it. The working genius assessment, especially when guided by a working genius certified facilitator, can be the catalyst for this transformation. The working genius model, as used by the Table Group team and organizations like Orangetheory Fitness, is a proven path to increased productivity, morale, and organizational health. When the 6 types of working genius are honored, teams experience a new level of fulfillment and success.

Turning Insight Into Action: Mapping Your Team’s Genius in Real Time

Pause for a moment and look around your team—whether you’re gathered in a conference room, on a video call, or scattered across time zones. What do you notice when a new project lands on your plate? Who lights up at the first whiff of possibility? Who instinctively asks the tough questions, or quietly starts sketching out a plan? And who, perhaps, seems to fade into the background, their energy dimming as the process unfolds? This is where the theory of the 6 types of working genius becomes deeply personal. It’s not just about understanding the model—it’s about seeing your team, and yourself, with new eyes. The next time you feel that familiar friction or sense a project stalling, ask yourself: What kind of genius is at play here? What’s missing? Is the team awash in ideas but short on follow-through? Are you pushing for action without first inviting discernment or wonder? Or maybe you’re carrying the weight of execution alone, wishing someone would step in to help rally the group or clear the path.

Try this: At your next team meeting, invite each person to share which genius they feel most alive in—and which one drains them. Notice the patterns. Where are you collectively strong? Where do you consistently struggle? This isn’t about assigning blame or fixing people. It’s about creating a map—a living, breathing picture of your team’s energy flow. Reflection can be a powerful catalyst. Consider these prompts as you explore your team’s dynamic:

• Where do you feel most energized in your work—and where do you feel resistance?
• When a project stalls, which type of genius is missing from the conversation?
• How might you invite someone with a different genius to take the lead, even for a moment?
• What would shift if you stopped seeing your own “weakness” as a flaw, and started seeing it as an invitation to collaborate?

The real bridge from insight to action is built in these moments of honest reflection and courageous conversation. When you name what’s true—about yourself, about your team—you create space for new possibilities. You begin to design your work, and your relationships, with intention. And that’s where the synergy of team dynamics truly comes alive. The working genius model, as used by the Table Group team and organizations like Orangetheory Fitness, is a proven path to increased productivity, morale, and organizational health. When the 6 types of working genius are honored, teams experience a new level of fulfillment and success.

From Awareness to Alchemy: The Essentials of Team Genius

When you strip away the jargon and frameworks, what remains is a simple, powerful truth: teams thrive not because everyone is the same, but because each person brings a different kind of brilliance. The 6 types of working genius isn’t just a tool for better meetings or smoother projects—it’s a lens for seeing the hidden architecture of trust, energy, and possibility within your team. If you remember nothing else, let it be this: friction is often a sign of missing genius, not missing commitment. When you learn to name and honor the unique contributions each person brings, you transform tension into momentum and difference into synergy.

Here’s what to carry forward as you integrate these insights into your daily work:

• Map the Genius, Not Just the Roles: Regularly revisit your team’s types of working genius profile. Notice where energy flows and where it stalls. Use this map to guide project assignments, meeting structures, and even hiring decisions.
• Normalize Naming What’s Missing: Make it safe to say, “We’re missing Galvanizing here,” or “We could use more Enablement.” This isn’t about blame—it’s about building wholeness.
• Invite Genius Into the Room: When you spot a gap, don’t try to fill it alone. Instead, invite someone whose genius matches the need. Watch how the energy shifts when the right person is empowered to lead.
• Reframe Weakness as Opportunity: When you hit resistance, pause. Ask: “Is this a sign of a missing genius?” Use friction as a prompt to collaborate, not a reason to withdraw.
• Celebrate the Full Cycle: Recognize and honor each stage of the work—from the spark of Wonder to the grit of Tenacity. Every genius is essential; every contribution matters.

The journey from awareness to alchemy is ongoing. It’s built in the small, daily choices to see each other fully, to speak honestly about what’s needed, and to design your work with intention. When you do, you don’t just get better results—you create a team where everyone’s genius is not just seen, but celebrated. And that is where true synergy begins.

Integrating the 6 Types of Working Genius for Lasting Success

As you reflect on your team’s journey, consider how the 6 types of working genius can become a foundation for lasting success. The model, developed by Patrick Lencioni and the Table Group, is more than a personality test—it’s a roadmap for leadership development, organizational health, and personal discovery. When you understand the types of working genius, you unlock the innate talents of your team, turning working frustrations into working competencies and working competency into true genius. The stories of Orangetheory Fitness, Andrew Laffoon, and countless disruptive geniuses show that honoring each type of working genius leads to increased productivity, higher morale, and a sense of fulfillment that goes beyond the tasks at hand.

Whether you’re a leader seeking greater potential, an individual craving more fulfillment, or a team striving for success, the 6 types of working genius offer a path forward. The working genius framework, especially when facilitated by a certified working genius facilitator, helps teams move from working frustration to working competency, from friction to flow. The journey is not about fixing what’s broken, but about discovering and celebrating the unique genius within each person. This is the heart of team development, leadership development, and organizational health. It’s about building a culture where every idea, every task, and every individual is valued for their innate talents and uncanny judgment.

Moving Forward: Your Invitation to Greater Potential

Every team has the power to change its story. The 6 types of working genius are not just a framework—they are an invitation to confidence, clarity, connection, leadership, and balance. When you choose to see and honor the genius in yourself and others, you create a space where true synergy can flourish. The next step is simple, but powerful: connect with us to explore how the 6 types of working genius can transform your team. Whether you’re seeking a working genius certified facilitator, a guide for your leadership development journey, or a partner in organizational health, we’re here to help you unlock your team’s greater potential.

Schedule a time to discuss your team with our CEO and take the first step toward a new era of teamwork, fulfillment, and success. Your team’s true genius is waiting to be discovered—and celebrated.