“Unlocking Diverse Talents: Navigating the Six Types of Working Genius”

There’s a moment every leader dreads: the team’s energy dips, the spark fades, and even the best-laid plans seem to stall. You sense it in the way meetings lose momentum, in the way once-enthusiastic voices grow quiet, and in the subtle but unmistakable ache of untapped potential. The project isn’t failing because of a lack of effort or skill—it’s faltering because something deeper is missing. If you’ve ever wondered why some teams soar while others stall, the answer may lie in understanding the 6 types of working genius.

When the Team’s Energy Falters

Picture a Monday morning: laptops open, coffee in hand, the team gathers to tackle another week. The agenda is clear, but the conversation circles the same problems. Solutions feel recycled, and the energy that once animated your group is nowhere to be found. Someone suggests a new idea, but it lands with a thud. Another person, usually so vocal, barely speaks. You wonder—are we missing something fundamental about how we work together?

This isn’t just about productivity or performance metrics. It’s about the subtle ache of untapped genius, the sense that your team could be so much more—if only you could unlock what’s hidden beneath the surface. If this resonates, if you’ve ever questioned why some teams soar while others stall, exploring the 6 types of working genius might be the key you’ve been searching for.

The Cost of Misaligned Genius

Every team is a tapestry of strengths, quirks, and quiet aspirations. Yet, when the threads are misaligned, even the most talented group can unravel. Most organizations don’t fail because of a lack of skill or ambition—they falter because the unique genius of each person is misunderstood, misplaced, or simply ignored. The silent toll is real: projects drag on because the right kind of energy is missing at the start, or brilliant ideas never see daylight because no one feels equipped to champion them. When people are forced to operate outside their natural genius for too long, exhaustion sets in. Engagement plummets. Trust erodes. The cost isn’t just measured in missed deadlines or lost revenue—it’s felt in the slow, steady drain of morale and the quiet resignation of people who know they’re capable of more.

But the stakes are even higher. When we overlook the diversity of working genius, we send an unspoken message: that only certain ways of contributing are valued. Over time, this narrows the team’s collective imagination and stifles innovation. The organization becomes a place where sameness is safe, and difference is a risk. In a world that demands agility and creativity, this is a risk no leader can afford. Recognizing and honoring the 6 types of working genius isn’t just a “nice to have”—it’s the foundation for building teams that are resilient, inspired, and capable of extraordinary results. When every kind of genius has a seat at the table, the invisible thread becomes visible—and the team’s true genius is finally within reach.

The Six Geniuses: A New Lens on Team Brilliance

Imagine that every project is a journey—one that requires not just a map, but a caravan of travelers, each with a unique gift for a different stretch of the road. The 6 types of working genius, a model developed by Patrick Lencioni and the Table Group, offer a radical reframe: what if the reason teams stall isn’t a lack of will, but a lack of the right genius at the right time?

The 6 types—Wonder, Discernment, Galvanizing, Enablement, Tenacity, and Invention—aren’t just personality traits or a personality test result. They are distinct energies, each essential to the life cycle of any meaningful work. When you see them clearly, you begin to understand why some meetings feel electric and others fall flat, why certain people light up at the start of a project and others come alive as the finish line approaches. The working genius model is a powerful tool for leaders and teams who want to unlock greater potential and achieve true genius in their work.

From Stalled to Soaring: The Power of Sequence

Consider a product launch that sputtered out in its final stages. The team had visionaries who dreamed big (Wonder), and inventors who generated new ideas (Invention). But as deadlines loomed, the energy shifted. The group struggled to move from brainstorming to action. No one stepped up to galvanize the team, to rally the troops and clarify the path forward. Enablement—the genius of support—was missing, too. The result? Great ideas, but no momentum. The finish line remained stubbornly out of reach.

This isn’t just a story about missing skills. It’s about missing genius at the right moment. Each type of working genius is a handoff in a relay race. When the baton is dropped—when a team lacks Discernment to vet ideas, or Tenacity to see things through—progress stalls. But when every genius is present and honored, the project flows. The team moves from possibility to reality, from spark to sustained achievement. The 6 types of working genius are not just a framework—they are the foundation for team development, increased productivity, and organizational health.

Seeing the Unseen: The Hidden Geniuses Among Us

It’s easy to celebrate the loudest voices—the galvanizers who rally the team, or the inventors who dazzle with new ideas. But what about the quiet genius of Enablement, the person who makes things possible for others, often without fanfare? Or the steady force of Tenacity, the one who ensures nothing is left unfinished? One client, a fast-growing tech startup, discovered this the hard way. Their culture prized big ideas and bold moves, but overlooked the quieter strengths. Projects started with a bang, but fizzled in execution. It wasn’t until they mapped their team’s working geniuses that they saw the gap: no one was wired for Enablement or Tenacity. By intentionally bringing in these missing geniuses—hiring, yes, but also honoring and developing them internally—their projects began to cross the finish line. The team’s energy shifted from scattered to synchronized.

When you honor every type of working genius, you don’t just achieve success—you create a legacy of fulfillment, innovation, and greater potential. The 6 types of working genius are a roadmap for leaders, individuals, and organizations who want to move from frustration to flow, from stalled projects to sustained success.

The Invitation: Rewriting the Team Story

What if the real work of leadership isn’t to mold everyone into a single ideal, but to orchestrate a symphony of diverse genius? The 6 types of working genius invite us to move beyond one-size-fits-all thinking. They challenge us to see the invisible architecture of great teams—the way each person’s natural genius, when recognized and released, becomes the missing piece in a larger puzzle. This is the shift: from frustration to fascination, from misalignment to momentum. When you see your team through this new lens, you don’t just solve problems—you unlock greater potential that was always there, waiting to be seen.

Vitaspark, a leader in team development and organizational health, has seen firsthand how the 6 types of working genius can transform teams. By integrating the working genius model into their approach, Vitaspark helps organizations move from patching holes to weaving a tapestry—one where every thread matters, and every contribution is essential.

Turning the Lens Inward: Discovering Your Own Working Genius

Pause for a moment. Before you rush to map your team or diagnose what’s missing in your organization, ask yourself: Where do I come alive in the work? When do I feel most energized, most in flow, most like myself? The 6 types of working genius aren’t just a tool for team design—they’re a mirror for self-understanding and personal discovery. Maybe you’re the one who always spots what’s missing, who sits with the big questions before anyone else has even noticed the gap. Or perhaps you’re the person who can’t help but tinker, invent, and reimagine, seeing possibilities where others see problems. Do you find yourself rallying people, infusing energy and urgency into the room? Or are you the steady hand, the one who quietly ensures that nothing falls through the cracks, who finds satisfaction in seeing things through to the end?

Take a quiet inventory. Reflect on your last few weeks of work:

• When did you feel most drained? Was it after a day spent in a type of work that doesn’t match your genius or working competency?
• When did you feel most alive? What were you doing, and who was with you?
• Where do you notice frustration—either in yourself or in others? Is it possible that a missing genius is at play?

This isn’t about labeling yourself or others, but about noticing patterns. The moments of ease and the moments of struggle—they’re clues. They point to your natural genius, your working frustrations, and your working competencies. As you begin to see these patterns, you gain the power to make intentional choices: to seek out work that aligns with your genius, to ask for support where you need it, and to honor the genius in those around you. The journey starts with self-awareness, but it doesn’t end there. It’s an invitation to reshape not just how you work, but how you lead, collaborate, and create.

From Insight to Action: Weaving Genius Into Everyday Work

The journey through the 6 types of working genius isn’t just a new lens—it’s a call to action. When you see the invisible architecture of your team, you can finally build with intention, not just hope. The real transformation happens not in the knowing, but in the doing: in the daily choices to honor, align, and activate the diverse genius within your reach. This is where clarity becomes momentum. When you recognize the unique energy each person brings, you move from patching holes to weaving a tapestry—one where every thread matters, and every contribution is essential. The cost of ignoring this is too high: missed opportunities, disengaged talent, and the slow erosion of morale. But the reward for integrating the 6 types of working genius is profound: teams that hum with purpose, projects that cross the finish line, and a culture where everyone feels seen.

Here’s how you can begin to turn insight into action:

• Map your team’s genius: Take inventory—formally or informally—of the types of working genius present (and missing) on your team. Notice where energy flows and where it stalls.
• Honor every genius: Make space for all 6 types in your meetings, project planning, and recognition rituals. Celebrate the quiet finishers as much as the bold starters.
• Design for alignment: Assign roles and responsibilities with genius in mind. Let people lead from their strengths, and pair up to cover gaps.
• Name the gaps, without blame: When a project stalls, ask: Which genius is missing here? Use this as a tool for curiosity, not criticism.
• Invite self-reflection: Encourage your team to notice their own patterns of energy and frustration. Normalize conversations about genius, not just performance.
• Commit to ongoing adjustment: Genius isn’t static. As your team evolves, so will your needs. Revisit, realign, and keep the conversation alive.

The 6 types of working genius aren’t just a framework—they’re a foundation for teams that want to do more than just get by. They’re for those who want to build, to finish, to thrive. When you integrate this wisdom, you don’t just unlock potential. You create a place where everyone’s genius is not just welcomed, but needed. And that changes everything.

The 6 Types of Working Genius: A Closer Look

To truly understand the 6 types of working genius, it helps to see how each one plays a vital role in the work cycle. Patrick Lencioni and the Table Group team designed this model to help individuals and teams identify their innate talents and working competencies, and to recognize where working frustrations may arise. Here’s a closer look at each type:

• Wonder: The genius of pondering possibilities, asking big questions, and sensing potential. These individuals are often the first to notice when something is missing or could be improved. Their uncanny judgment helps teams see beyond the obvious and imagine greater potential.
• Discernment: The genius of evaluating ideas and solutions with intuition and uncanny judgment. People with this genius have a knack for knowing what will work and what won’t, often without needing all the data.
• Galvanizing: The genius of rallying others to action, infusing energy, and driving momentum. Galvanizers are the spark that gets the team moving, ensuring that new ideas don’t just stay on the whiteboard.
• Enablement: The genius of providing support, encouragement, and practical help. Those with this genius make things possible for others, smoothing the path and ensuring that tasks don’t stall.
• Tenacity: The genius of pushing projects to completion, ensuring that nothing is left unfinished. Tenacious individuals thrive on seeing things through and delivering results.
• Invention: The genius of creating new ideas, solutions, and approaches. Inventors love to tinker, experiment, and bring fresh thinking to the table.

Each of these 6 types is essential for organizational health, increased productivity, and team development. When one is missing, the team feels it—whether it’s a lack of new ideas, a gap in support, or a struggle to finish what’s started. The working genius model is a powerful tool for leaders, individuals, and organizations who want to unlock greater potential and achieve true genius in their work.

Why the 6 Types of Working Genius Matter for Leaders and Teams

For leaders, understanding the 6 types of working genius is a game-changer. It’s not just about assigning tasks or managing performance—it’s about unlocking the true genius within each individual and creating a culture where every type of working genius is valued. The working genius assessment, developed by Patrick Lencioni and the Table Group, is more than a personality test; it’s a tool for personal discovery, leadership development, and organizational health. Certified working genius facilitators and working genius certified facilitators can help teams map their collective genius, identify working competencies, and address working frustrations. This process leads to greater fulfillment, increased productivity, and a renewed sense of morale. When teams honor the 6 types of working genius, they move from frustration to flow, from stalled projects to sustained success.

Organizations like Orangetheory Fitness have leveraged the working genius model to drive team development and organizational health. By recognizing the disruptive geniuses within their ranks and aligning tasks with innate talents, they’ve seen a measurable boost in productivity and morale. Andrew Laffoon, a leader known for his commitment to personal discovery and leadership development, has also championed the 6 types of working genius as a foundation for success. The Table Group team, under the guidance of Pat Lencioni and Patrick Lencioni, continues to refine the working genius framework, helping individuals and teams unlock greater potential and achieve true genius in their work. Whether you’re a leader, a team member, or an individual seeking fulfillment, the 6 types of working genius offer a roadmap for personal and organizational transformation.

Integrating the 6 Types of Working Genius Into Your Work

The journey doesn’t end with awareness. To fully realize the benefits of the 6 types of working genius, teams must integrate this wisdom into their daily work. This means designing meetings, projects, and recognition systems that honor every type of working genius. It means using the working genius assessment as a starting point for ongoing conversations about talent, fulfillment, and success. By partnering with a certified working genius facilitator or working genius certified facilitator, teams can deepen their understanding of the working genius model, address working frustrations, and build a culture of teamwork and increased productivity. The result is not just better work—it’s a workplace where every individual’s genius is seen, valued, and unleashed.

The 6 types of working genius are more than a framework—they are the foundation for unlocking the true genius within your team, your organization, and yourself. When you honor every type of working genius, you don’t just achieve success—you create a legacy of fulfillment, innovation, and greater potential. Vitaspark stands ready to help you and your team discover, honor, and activate your unique blend of genius, so you can move from frustration to flow and from potential to performance.

Takeaways: The Integration

Unlocking the 6 types of working genius is about more than just understanding a model—it’s about seeing yourself and your team with new eyes. It’s about honoring every kind of genius, from the bold inventor to the quiet finisher, and weaving those strengths into the fabric of your daily work. When you do, you unlock greater potential, boost morale, and create a culture where every individual’s genius is needed and celebrated. The journey starts with awareness, but it leads to fulfillment, innovation, and true success.

Closing & Call to Action: The Emotional Invitation

You have the power to change the story of your team and your work. The 6 types of working genius offer a roadmap to confidence, clarity, connection, leadership, and balance. If you’re ready to unlock the true genius within your team and yourself, the next step is simple: connect with us to schedule a conversation. Let’s explore how you can bring the 6 types of working genius to life in your organization—and create a place where every kind of genius is not just welcomed, but needed.