What Is Working Genius? A Practical Guide for Leaders and Teams

If you have ever looked at your team and thought:

• Why do some people thrive in certain parts of the work but struggle in others?
• Why do good ideas stall before they become reality?
• Why does one person light up in a brainstorm while another comes alive when it is time to execute?

That is exactly where the 6 Types of Working Genius framework comes in.

Created by Patrick Lencioni, Working Genius is a simple but powerful model that helps individuals and teams understand how work gets done best. It shows where people naturally bring energy, where they add the most value, and where they are more likely to feel drained.

For leaders, business owners, and managers, this matters a lot. Because when the right people are doing the right kind of work at the right stage, teams work better. Momentum improves. Frustration drops. Results get stronger.

What Is Working Genius?

Working Genius is a productivity and teamwork model that identifies six types of work that are required to move any project from idea to completion.

The model is built around the fact that not all work is the same, and not all people are naturally energised by the same kind of work.

Some people are brilliant at spotting opportunities.
Some are strongest when generating ideas.
Some are best at evaluating options.
Others are natural motivators, supporters, or finishers.

None of these are better than the others. But they are different.

That difference is where this model becomes useful.

Instead of treating every team member the same, the Working Genius assessment helps leaders understand where each person contributes best and where gaps may exist across the team.

The 6 Types of Working Genius

Every project or piece of work moves through six key stages. Each stage needs a different kind of contribution.

1. Wonder

Wonder is the ability to notice that something could be better.

This is where work begins. It asks questions like:

• What if?
• Why are we doing it this way?
• Is there a better approach?

People strong in Wonder are often the first to spot problems, missed opportunities, or the need for change.

2. Invention

Invention is the ability to create ideas and solutions.

Once a need or opportunity has been identified, Invention steps in to generate fresh thinking. These are the people who naturally come up with new approaches, concepts, and possibilities.

They are often the ones saying, “I have an idea.”

3. Discernment

Discernment is the ability to evaluate ideas and judge what is likely to work.

This is the genius of instinct, judgement, and wise decision-making. Discerners help teams avoid chasing bad ideas and improve the good ones before too much time or energy is invested.

4. Galvanizing

Galvanizing is the ability to rally people into action.

These are the people who build momentum. They communicate the idea, create enthusiasm, and get others moving in the same direction.

A team can have a great idea, but without Galvanizing, it may never gain traction.

5. Enablement

Enablement is the ability to support others and help move work forward.

Enablers are often the people who jump in, offer help, remove obstacles, and make execution easier. They are practical, supportive, and essential to team flow.

They may not always be the loudest people in the room, but they often keep the whole thing from falling apart.

6. Tenacity

Tenacity is the ability to push work through to completion.

This is the genius of follow-through, detail, discipline, and finishing strong. Tenacious people keep projects moving, track progress, and make sure things actually get done.

Because starting is exciting. Finishing is where the real value shows up.

Why Working Genius Matters in Business

One of the biggest mistakes leaders make is assuming poor performance always means poor people.

Usually, it is not that simple.

Sometimes the issue is not skill.
Sometimes it is not attitude.
Sometimes it is not even motivation.

Sometimes the issue is that a person is doing too much work in an area that drains them and not enough work in an area where they naturally thrive.

That is why the Working Genius model for teams is so effective.

It helps leaders:

• understand how team members work best
• identify where projects tend to get stuck
• spot missing strengths across the team
• improve delegation and role alignment
• reduce unnecessary frustration and burnout

In other words, it gives leaders a practical way to improve both team performance and team satisfaction.

How the Working Genius Model Helps Teams

The best teams do not just have talented people.

They have the right mix of strengths across the full cycle of work.

That matters because every project needs all six types of contribution:

• someone to notice the opportunity
• someone to generate the idea
• someone to test the idea
• someone to build momentum
• someone to support execution
• someone to ensure completion

If one of those areas is weak or missing, the team will usually feel it.

For example:

• lots of Wonder and Invention but no Tenacity can lead to plenty of ideas and very little follow-through
• strong Enablement without clear Galvanizing can create support without momentum
• high Tenacity without enough Wonder can lead to teams working hard but not asking whether they are working on the right thing

That is why Working Genius for leadership teams can be such a game changer.

It helps teams stop guessing and start understanding how their work actually flows.

The Natural Sequence of Work

One of the most useful parts of the 6 Types of Working Genius framework is that it follows the natural progression of work.

Phase 1: Ideation

This is where Wonder and Invention are most active.

Someone notices a problem or opportunity.
Someone creates a possible solution.

Phase 2: Activation

This is where Discernment and Galvanizing take the lead.

The idea gets evaluated, refined, and then communicated in a way that gets others engaged.

Phase 3: Implementation

This is where Enablement and Tenacity become essential.

The project gets supported, carried forward, and completed.

This sequence matters.

Because timing matters.

A person strong in Wonder may be invaluable at the start of a project, but frustrating in the middle if they keep opening new loops. A person high in Tenacity may be essential later on but less energised by open-ended brainstorming at the beginning.

This does not make one better than the other. It just means leaders need to understand who is best suited for which stage of the work.

Working Genius vs Strengths Assessments

Many leaders ask how Working Genius compares to other tools like personality tests, strengths assessments, or spiritual gifts frameworks.

Those tools can all be helpful. But Working Genius brings something different.

It is not just focused on personality.
It is not just focused on traits.
It is focused on work.

More specifically, it focuses on:

• what type of work gives people energy
• what type of work drains them
• how work moves through a team
• what is missing when projects stall or teams feel stuck

That makes it especially valuable for business owners, managers, and team leaders who want something practical rather than theoretical.

Working Genius in Practice

If you lead a team, you have probably already seen these patterns without having language for them.

You have likely worked with:

• the person who always asks smart questions no one else saw
• the person who can generate ideas all day
• the person who can tell quickly whether something is solid or shaky
• the person who gets the whole team moving
• the person who always helps others execute
• the person who quietly makes sure the work is finished properly

That is Working Genius in real life.

The framework simply gives leaders a clearer way to understand those patterns and use them intentionally.

When leaders understand the Working Genius assessment, they can:

• assign responsibilities more effectively
• build more balanced teams
• reduce friction in communication
• create clearer expectations
• help people work in areas where they add the most value

That is where the real benefit shows up.

Benefits of Working Genius for Leaders

For business owners and leaders, the value of Working Genius is not just insight. It is action.

Used well, it can help you:

• improve team alignment
• make better hiring decisions
• reduce overwhelm
• clarify roles
• boost accountability
• create healthier team dynamics
• increase execution without burning people out

This is especially important in small businesses, where one person often ends up wearing too many hats.

In those environments, understanding Working Genius can quickly highlight where someone is carrying work they can do, but should not be doing all the time.

That distinction matters.

Because just because someone is capable of doing something does not mean it is where they are best.

Final Thoughts: What Is Your Working Genius?

If you want a stronger team, better productivity, and less unnecessary friction, understanding Working Genius is a smart place to start.

It helps individuals understand how they work best.
It helps leaders build better teams.
And it helps businesses move from chaos and frustration toward clarity and momentum.

That is why this framework has become such a valuable tool for leaders.

It is simple.
It is practical.
And it actually helps people work better together.

So the real question is not just, what is Working Genius?

It is:

What is your Working Genius — and are you using it well?