ARTICLE
There’s a moment in every career when you wonder why some tasks feel like a natural extension of yourself, while others drain you before you even begin. Maybe it’s in the middle of a team meeting, or as you stare at a blank project plan, watching a colleague light up at the very work that makes your shoulders tense. You wonder if you’re missing something, or if everyone else is just better at hiding their working frustrations. The truth is, beneath the surface of every high-performing team and every ambitious leader, there’s a hidden architecture of strengths—often misunderstood, sometimes ignored, but always shaping the way we show up. This is the territory we’re about to explore: the 6 types of working genius, a framework that can transform not just your work, but your sense of fulfillment and success.
When Strength Feels Like a Secret
Consider the quiet frustration of being praised for your reliability, when what you crave is the thrill of invention. Or the subtle guilt that creeps in when you’re asked to “just get it done,” but your mind is still searching for the missing piece, the deeper why. Maybe you’ve tried every personality test, every productivity hack, hoping for a map that finally explains why your energy soars in some roles and evaporates in others. If any of this sounds like the silent soundtrack of your work life, you’re not alone. The 6 types of working genius offer a new language for this discovery, helping you see your innate talents not as quirks to be managed, but as essential energies in a living system.
The Cost of Unseen Genius
Every organization is a living mosaic of talent, yet most operate as if everyone’s gifts are interchangeable. We celebrate “hard work” and “team players,” but rarely pause to ask: What kind of work? What kind of team? The result is a quiet epidemic of misalignment—people burning out in roles that don’t fit, teams missing the spark that turns effort into innovation, and leaders left wondering why motivation feels so fragile. When we don’t understand the unique ways we’re wired to contribute, we end up measuring ourselves—and each other—against the wrong yardstick. We reward the visible hustle, but overlook the invisible genius that fuels it. The colleague who always asks “what if?” might be dismissed as a dreamer, while the one who insists on finishing every detail is labeled a perfectionist. In reality, both are essential, but only when their strengths are recognized and channeled.
This matters because the cost of ignoring our working genius isn’t just personal frustration—it’s lost potential, fractured trust, and a culture where people feel unseen. When strengths remain hidden, so does the energy, creativity, and resilience that organizations need most. But when we learn to spot and honor these differences, we unlock a new level of clarity—not just about what we do, but about who we are, and how we can finally build teams where everyone gets to shine. The 6 types of working genius, as developed by patrick lencioni and the table group, offer a new language for this discovery.
Decoding the 6 Types of Working Genius: A New Lens on Contribution
Imagine, for a moment, that every project is a relay race. But instead of passing a baton, what’s handed off is the very energy that propels the work forward. Some runners are born to launch with a burst of vision, others to steady the pace, others still to cross the finish line with precision. The 6 types of working genius—Wonder, Discernment, Galvanizing, Enablement, Tenacity, and Invention—offer a map for this relay, revealing not just what we do, but how we’re wired to move work from idea to impact. Let’s step into the shoes of each genius, not as abstract labels, but as living, breathing energies that shape the flow of every team and every initiative. The working genius assessment, created by pat lencioni and the table group team, is designed to help individuals and leaders uncover these innate talents and align them with the right tasks and roles.
The Spark of Wonder and Invention
It starts with Wonder—the quiet, persistent questioner who sees what’s missing and asks, “Could this be better?” In a world obsessed with answers, Wonder is the rare genius that dares to dwell in the unknown. It’s the colleague who notices the gap no one else sees, who sits with ambiguity long enough to let possibility take root. Without Wonder, teams risk solving the wrong problems, mistaking motion for progress. This is the genius that often sparks new ideas and greater potential for organizational health.
Then comes Invention—the architect of new ideas. Where Wonder asks, Invention answers, conjuring ideas from thin air, sketching blueprints where others see only blank space. This is the genius that thrives on originality, that feels most alive when building something that’s never existed before. But invention without a problem to solve is just noise; invention needs wonder’s questions to give it purpose. The 6 types of working genius remind us that true genius is not just about having new ideas, but about knowing when and how to apply them for maximum impact.
Discernment and Galvanizing: The Bridge from Idea to Action
Once ideas are born, Discernment steps in—the intuitive evaluator, the one who can sense what will work and what won’t, often before there’s data to prove it. Discernment is the quiet filter, the gut check, the “yes, but…” that saves teams from chasing every shiny object. It’s a genius that can feel isolating in a culture that prizes consensus, but without it, teams risk wasting energy on ideas that were never meant to fly. This is where uncanny judgment becomes a working competency, and where the working genius framework truly shines.
Galvanizing is the rallying cry—the energy that transforms a good idea into a shared mission. This genius gathers people, ignites momentum, and turns intention into movement. Galvanizers are the ones who can’t help but say, “Let’s go!” They’re the spark that gets others on board, the force that turns potential into progress. But even the best rally needs direction; without discernment, galvanizing can lead teams down the wrong path, faster. The 6 types of working genius show us that every idea needs both the disruptive geniuses and the steady hands to bring it to life.
Enablement and Tenacity: The Power of Follow-Through
As the project gains steam, Enablement emerges—the genius of support, of saying “yes, I’ll help,” and meaning it. Enablement is often mistaken for mere helpfulness, but it’s so much more: it’s the ability to sense what others need and deliver it in a way that unlocks their best work. This genius is the glue that holds teams together, the quiet force that makes teamwork possible. Enablement is a working competency that, when honored, leads to increased productivity and greater fulfillment for individuals and teams alike.
Finally, Tenacity—the relentless finisher. Tenacity is the drive to see things through, to push past obstacles, to deliver on promises. It’s the genius that refuses to let details slip, that finds satisfaction in completion. In a world that celebrates starting, tenacity is the unsung hero of finishing. Without it, even the best ideas remain unfinished symphonies. The 6 types of working genius remind us that every phase of work, from idea to execution, requires a different kind of energy and talent.
The Interplay: Why No Genius Stands Alone
What’s revolutionary about the working genius model isn’t just the language—it’s the invitation to see contribution as a sequence, not a competition. Each genius is essential, but none is sufficient on its own. The most effective teams aren’t those with the most “brilliant” individuals, but those who know how to pass the baton—honoring the unique energy each person brings, and knowing when to step forward or step back. Consider the story of a product launch that stalled for months. The team was packed with Inventors and Galvanizers—ideas and energy in abundance—but lacked Discernment and Tenacity. Meetings were electric, but deadlines slipped, and the product never quite landed. It wasn’t until a new member joined—someone whose genius was Discernment, who could quietly steer the group toward what mattered, and another with tenacity, who kept the team accountable—that the project finally crossed the finish line.
This is the shift: from seeing strengths as static traits, to understanding them as dynamic roles in a living process. When we recognize the genius in ourselves and others, we stop asking, “Why can’t I be more like them?” and start asking, “How can we be more like us?” That’s where hidden strengths become shared success, and where the 6 types of working genius become a roadmap for team development, leadership development, and organizational health.
Turning Insight Into Action: Mapping Your Own Genius
Pause for a moment and let the model settle in. Maybe you recognize yourself in the relentless finisher, or perhaps you’re the one who always asks, “What if?” before anyone else has even named the problem. But knowing the language of the 6 types of working genius is only the beginning. The real transformation happens when you start to map these insights onto your own work—and your team’s. Ask yourself: Where do you feel most alive in your day-to-day work? Is it in the spark of a new idea, the thrill of rallying others, or the quiet satisfaction of seeing a project through to completion? Notice not just what you’re good at, but what energizes you. Sometimes, our greatest strengths are so natural we overlook them, or we’ve been praised for skills that secretly drain us. What would shift if you honored the difference?
Now, look at your current role or team. Where are the gaps? Are you surrounded by visionaries but struggling to finish? Is there plenty of support, but not enough challenge to push ideas forward? Reflect on the moments when frustration bubbles up—are you being asked to operate outside your genius for too long, or is someone else’s genius being overlooked? These aren’t just pain points; they’re clues to a better way of working together. If you’re a leader, consider: How might you redesign meetings, projects, or even job descriptions to better align with the unique strengths on your team? If you’re an individual contributor, what conversations could you start about the kind of work that brings out your best? The invitation is simple, but profound: move from self-judgment to self-awareness, from silent struggle to shared language. Because when you name your genius—and honor the genius in others—you don’t just change how you work. You change what’s possible.
From Hidden Patterns to Shared Power: What the 6 Types of Working Genius Model Reveals
The journey through the 6 types of working genius isn’t just a tour of personality test results—it’s a revelation of what’s possible when we stop forcing ourselves (and others) into ill-fitting molds. When we see our strengths not as quirks to be managed, but as essential energies in a living system, we unlock a new kind of clarity and collaboration. Here’s what this model asks us to remember—and what it empowers us to do:
- Strength isn’t always loud. Sometimes, your most valuable contribution is the one you’ve been downplaying or hiding. The genius of Wonder or enablement may not always get the spotlight, but without them, teams lose their edge and cohesion.
- No one is meant to do it all. The myth of the “well-rounded” contributor is just that—a myth. The most resilient teams are those that honor difference, fill gaps intentionally, and let each genius do what it does best.
- Misalignment is a signal, not a flaw. If you’re feeling drained, frustrated, or unseen, it’s not a personal failing—it’s a clue that your genius may be underutilized or misplaced. Use that discomfort as a prompt for honest conversation and realignment.
- Language is liberation. When you and your team share a vocabulary for strengths, you move from silent struggle to shared strategy. Suddenly, what once felt like a personal weakness becomes a collective opportunity.
Action Steps to Integrate the 6 Types of Working Genius
- Map your own working genius profile: Identify which of the 6 types of working genius energize you, and which tend to drain you.
- Audit your current role or team: Where are the strengths concentrated? Where are the gaps? Who might be operating outside their genius for too long?
- Start a conversation: Share the model with your team or manager. Ask, “Where do you see these types of working genius showing up in our work? Where might we be missing one?”
- Redesign for alignment: Look for small ways to shift responsibilities, meeting structures, or project phases so that each genius gets its moment to shine.
- Celebrate the unseen: Make it a habit to recognize not just the loudest contributions, but the quiet genius that makes success possible.
When you integrate the 6 types of working genius, you’re not just improving productivity—you’re building a culture where every person’s energy, insight, and effort matter. That’s the real genius: turning hidden patterns into shared power, and making work a place where everyone gets to bring their best. The working genius assessment, developed by patrick lencioni and the table group, is a powerful tool for personal discovery, team development, and leadership development. Whether you’re an individual, a leader, or a working genius certified facilitator, the journey to greater potential, increased productivity, and true fulfillment begins with understanding the 6 types of working genius.
Beyond the Model: Real-World Impact and Subtle Connections
As you reflect on the 6 types of working genius, consider how this framework is quietly reshaping organizations and teams across industries. At Vitaspark, we’ve seen firsthand how the working genius model can transform morale, unlock greater potential, and create a ripple effect of success that extends far beyond the boardroom. Whether you’re a certified working genius facilitator or just beginning your journey of personal discovery, the impact is real. Even companies like Orangetheory Fitness and leaders such as Andrew Laffoon have leveraged the 6 types of working genius to drive organizational health and teamwork. The table group team continues to innovate, ensuring that the working genius framework remains relevant and actionable for individuals and teams alike.
It’s not just about knowing your genius—it’s about using that knowledge to create morale, productivity, and fulfillment in every aspect of your work. The 6 types are more than a personality test; they are a roadmap for team development, leadership development, and organizational health. When you honor your working competencies and those of your colleagues, you move from working frustration to shared success. The working genius certified facilitator community, including those at Vitaspark, is dedicated to helping you unlock your innate talents and achieve greater potential.
Integration and Hope: Your Next Step
The 6 types of working genius are not just a framework—they are an invitation to step into your own clarity, confidence, and connection. When you understand your genius, you reclaim your energy, your work, and your sense of possibility. You become the kind of leader, teammate, or contributor who not only gets things done, but does the right thing in the right way, at the right time. This is the path to balance, to fulfillment, and to a kind of success that is both personal and collective.
If you’re ready to explore how the 6 types of working genius can transform your team, your work, and your life, we invite you to connect with us. Schedule a time to discuss your team with our CEO: https://tidycal.com/1v9o66m/vstoolkit
Every genius matters. Every workday can be a source of energy, not exhaustion. The journey to greater potential starts with a single step—and the courage to honor what makes you, and your team, truly brilliant.
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