“Unlocking Your Potential: Exploring the ‘6 Types of Working Genius’ and Beyond”

There’s a moment in every workday when you pause, hands hovering over the keyboard, and wonder why some tasks feel like a natural extension of yourself, while others drain you to the bone. It’s not just fatigue. It’s a quiet, persistent sense that you’re swimming upstream, that your best efforts are somehow misaligned with the current of your own strengths. The 6 types of working genius framework, developed by patrick lencioni and the table group, offers a new lens for understanding this friction. If you’ve ever felt like your work is a puzzle missing pieces, you’re not alone. The working genius model is a map for those who want to unlock their greater potential and experience true fulfillment in their professional lives.

When the Workday Feels Like a Puzzle Missing Pieces

Perhaps you’ve noticed it in the way your energy spikes during brainstorming sessions, only to plummet when it’s time to finalize the details. Or maybe it’s the opposite: you thrive in the execution, but dread the ambiguity of starting something new. The world tells us to “play to our strengths,” but what if you’re not entirely sure what those strengths are—or why certain parts of your job feel so heavy, even when you’re technically “good” at them? The 6 types of working genius can help you decode these patterns and unlock greater potential.

For some, this disconnect shows up as frustration: Why can’t I just push through? For others, it’s a slow erosion of confidence, a nagging suspicion that you’re not living up to your potential. And for many, it’s simply resignation—a belief that work is supposed to be a grind, that fulfillment is reserved for the lucky few. The working genius model challenges this narrative, inviting individuals and leaders to reimagine what true genius at work can look like. If any of this sounds like the silent soundtrack to your work life, there’s a deeper story behind the friction, and understanding it could be the key to unlocking not just productivity, but genuine success.

The Hidden Cost of Misalignment

It’s easy to dismiss that sense of friction as just part of the job—something everyone endures, a tax on ambition. But what if the exhaustion you feel isn’t a sign of weakness, but a signal that something essential is out of sync? The 6 types of working genius framework, created by pat lencioni and the table group team, reveals that working outside your innate talents for too long can have profound consequences.

Research in organizational health and leadership development tells us that when people work outside their natural strengths for too long, the consequences ripple far beyond a bad day. Engagement drops. Creativity withers. Teams lose their spark, and trust quietly erodes as colleagues struggle to understand each other’s rhythms. The cost isn’t just emotional—it’s measurable. Gallup’s studies show that employees who use their strengths every day are six times more likely to be engaged at work, and teams that focus on strengths see higher productivity, lower turnover, and deeper collaboration. Increased productivity and morale are not just buzzwords—they are the outcomes of honoring true genius.

But the real cost is more personal. When you spend your days in roles that don’t fit, you start to question your own value. You wonder if you’re the problem, if you’re simply not “enough.” Over time, this self-doubt calcifies, making it harder to see the unique genius you bring to the table. The world loses out on your best work—not because you lack talent, but because the puzzle pieces were never arranged to let you shine. This is the hidden cost of ignoring your working genius and the 6 types that make up the full spectrum of team development.

This is why understanding your working genius isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s the foundation for meaningful work, resilient teams, and a sense of purpose that endures. When you align your daily efforts with your innate talents, you don’t just get more done—you reclaim the energy, confidence, and clarity that make work feel like a calling, not a chore.

From Friction to Flow: The Six Faces of Working Genius

Imagine, for a moment, that every project is a relay race. The baton passes from one hand to the next, each runner bringing a unique stride, a distinct burst of energy. But what if you’ve spent your career sprinting in the wrong leg of the race—wondering why you’re winded while others seem to fly? This is the quiet revolution behind patrick lencioni’s 6 types of working genius—a framework that doesn’t just name your strengths, but maps the entire journey of work, from the first spark of an idea to the final flourish of completion.

The 6 types—Wonder, Invention, Discernment, Galvanizing, Enablement, and Tenacity—aren’t just labels. They’re invitations to see yourself, and your team, with new eyes. Each type represents a distinct phase of work, a unique form of energy that is essential for progress. When you know your working genius, you stop blaming yourself for the places you struggle—and start seeking out the roles and rhythms where you naturally thrive. The working genius assessment, developed by the table group, is a powerful tool for this personal discovery.

Let’s break the silence around these energies and the 6 types of working genius:

• Wonder is the genius of asking the big, unspoken questions. It’s the person who sits quietly in a meeting, sensing what’s missing, daring to imagine what could be better. This is where new ideas are born.
• Invention is the spark that follows—the creative force that turns questions into possibilities, sketching solutions where others see only problems. Invention is the birthplace of disruptive geniuses and new ideas.
• Discernment brings the gift of uncanny judgment, the ability to sense what will work and what won’t, even when the data is incomplete. This genius is essential for leadership development and organizational health.
• Galvanizing is the rallying cry, the energy that mobilizes others, transforming ideas into shared momentum. Galvanizing is the thing that turns potential into action.
• Enablement is the steady, generous support that helps others move forward, smoothing the path and removing obstacles. Enablement is the glue of teamwork and morale.
• Tenacity is the relentless drive to finish, to push through the final mile, ensuring that what was started is truly completed. Tenacity is the genius that delivers success and fulfillment.

Most of us have two of these as our “genius”—the places where we feel alive, energized, and in flow. Two more are “working competencies”—we can do them, but they don’t light us up. The last two are “working frustrations”—the work that drains us, no matter how hard we try. Understanding your working genius, working competency, and working frustration is the key to unlocking your greater potential.

A Client’s Turning Point: When Genius Meets Reality

Consider Maya, a senior project manager whose days were a blur of back-to-back meetings and endless to-do lists. She was known for her reliability, but inside, she felt like she was suffocating. Every new initiative left her anxious, every brainstorming session a source of dread. It wasn’t until she discovered her working genius profile—Tenacity and Enablement—that the fog began to lift. Maya realized she was spending most of her time in Invention and Galvanizing, roles that left her depleted. The relief was palpable: “I thought I was failing. But I was just in the wrong lane.”

With this clarity, Maya began to advocate for herself. She partnered with a colleague whose genius was Invention, and together, they restructured their workflow. Maya took ownership of project completion and team support, while her colleague led the ideation. The result? Not just better outcomes, but a profound sense of ease. Maya’s energy returned. Her confidence grew. The team noticed the shift—not just in productivity, but in morale. This is the power of the 6 types of working genius in action, and why so many leaders are turning to the working genius assessment and certified working genius facilitator for guidance.

Stories like Maya’s are echoed in organizations from Orangetheory Fitness to Vitaspark, where the 6 types have helped teams move from friction to flow. When individuals discover their genius, and teams honor each other’s working competencies and working frustrations, the results are transformative. Team development becomes more than a buzzword—it becomes a lived experience.

Beyond the Labels: The Courage to Reimagine Your Role

The real power of the working genius model isn’t in the assessment itself—it’s in the permission it grants. Permission to stop apologizing for the work that drains you. Permission to seek out, or even design, roles that let your genius shine. And perhaps most importantly, permission to see your colleagues not as obstacles, but as essential partners in the relay. The 6 types of working genius are not just a personality test—they are a roadmap for team development and organizational health.

This shift is more than a productivity hack. It’s a reclamation of agency. When you understand your working genius, you begin to rewrite the story you tell yourself about your value. You stop measuring your worth by how well you “push through” your working frustrations, and start honoring the unique contribution only you can make. The table group team and certified working genius facilitator have seen this transformation in countless individuals and teams.

As you do, something remarkable happens: the friction that once felt like failure becomes a signpost, pointing you toward the work you were meant to do. The puzzle pieces begin to fit—not by forcing them, but by finally seeing the whole picture. This is the essence of true genius and the promise of the 6 types of working genius.

Turning Insight Into Action: Your Genius in the Wild

Pause for a moment. Let the idea settle: What if the friction you feel isn’t a flaw, but a compass? What if your exhaustion is simply a message—one that’s been waiting for you to listen? The 6 types of working genius framework is not just about insight; it’s about transformation.

This is where the real work begins. It’s one thing to understand the 6 types of working genius in theory; it’s another to let that knowledge reshape the way you move through your day, your team, your career. The bridge from insight to transformation is built on honest reflection and courageous experimentation. The working genius assessment, available through the table group, is a powerful starting point for personal discovery.

Start by asking yourself: Where do I feel most alive in my work? When do I lose track of time, or find myself energized even after a long day? These are the moments when your genius is in the driver’s seat. Now, flip the lens: Which tasks leave you drained, resentful, or doubting your abilities? These are likely your working frustrations—signals, not shortcomings.

If you’re leading a team, consider the dynamics at play. Are you assigning projects based on job titles, or on the unique genius each person brings? What would shift if you started conversations with, “Where do you feel most in flow?” instead of, “What’s on your plate?” The difference is subtle, but the impact can be seismic. This is the heart of leadership development and team development.

For those ready to take action, try this gentle experiment over the next week:

• At the end of each day, jot down one task that energized you and one that depleted you. Don’t judge—just notice. This is the first step in identifying your working genius and working competencies.
• Reflect on your current role: Are you spending most of your time in your genius, your working competencies, or your working frustrations?
• Share your insights with a trusted colleague or manager. Invite them to do the same. What patterns emerge? Where could you swap responsibilities, even in small ways, to honor each other’s strengths?

Remember, this isn’t about overhauling your job overnight. It’s about making micro-adjustments—one conversation, one project, one boundary at a time. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s progress. Each step you take toward alignment is a step toward reclaiming your energy, your confidence, and your sense of purpose. This is the path to greater potential, increased productivity, and fulfillment.

What if, starting today, you gave yourself permission to design your work around your genius—not just for your own sake, but for the sake of everyone who benefits when you’re at your best? The invitation is open. The next move is yours.

The Genius Shift: Integrating Insight Into Everyday Work

If you’ve made it this far, you already sense the truth: the way you work isn’t just a matter of skill or willpower—it’s a reflection of how deeply your daily tasks align with your innate genius. The friction you’ve felt isn’t a flaw; it’s a signal. The moments of flow aren’t accidents; they’re clues. When you honor these signals, you don’t just become more productive—you become more yourself. The 6 types of working genius are the map for this journey.

Let’s distill what matters most:

• Your working genius is not a luxury to indulge, but a necessity to honor. When you work in alignment, you reclaim energy, confidence, and clarity.
• Misalignment isn’t a personal failing. It’s a systems problem—one that can be solved with awareness, conversation, and courage.
• The 6 types of working genius model is a map, not a box. It’s an invitation to design your work, your team, and your leadership around what makes you—and those around you—come alive.

If you’re ready to move from insight to integration, start here:

• Notice the signals. Track which tasks energize you and which deplete you for one week. Patterns will emerge—trust them.
• Name your genius. Take the working genius assessment or reflect honestly on your own experiences. Claim your strengths without apology.
• Start the conversation. Share your insights with a colleague, manager, or team. Ask, “Where do you feel most in flow?” and listen deeply.
• Make one micro-shift. Swap a task, set a boundary, or propose a new way of collaborating that honors your genius. Small changes compound.
• Revisit and refine. Integration is a process, not a one-time fix. Check in with yourself regularly and adjust as you grow.

The puzzle pieces of your work life are not fixed. With intention and self-awareness, you can rearrange them—sometimes subtly, sometimes boldly—until the picture that emerges is one of energy, purpose, and genuine fulfillment. The genius is already within you. The next step is yours to take.

Resonance, Hope, and Your Next Step

As you reflect on the 6 types of working genius, remember: you are not defined by your working frustrations or limited by your working competencies. You are invited to step into your true genius, to design your work and your life around what makes you come alive. Whether you’re inspired by the stories of Orangetheory Fitness, the innovation at Vitaspark, or the leadership of andrew laffoon, the path to success and fulfillment is open to you.

Reclaim your confidence, clarity, connection, leadership, and balance. The 6 types of working genius are not just a personality test—they are a roadmap to a more energized, authentic, and impactful work life. If you’re ready to explore how the working genius model can transform your team or your own journey, connect with a working genius certified facilitator or a certified working genius facilitator who can guide you through the process.

Your next step is simple: Schedule a time to discuss your team with our CEO. The invitation is open. The next move is yours. Step into your genius—and let the work you do become the work you love.