The 6 Types of Working Genius

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Outline: The 6 Types of Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni

Core Concept

  • Premise: People possess natural “geniuses” or working intelligences that align with specific phases of projects.
  • Purpose: To identify individual and team strengths, boosting productivity, job satisfaction, and organizational success.

Key Insights

  1. The Six Geniuses:
    • Wonder: Identifying opportunities.
    • Invention: Generating solutions.
    • Discernment: Evaluating ideas.
    • Galvanizing: Motivating the team.
    • Enablement: Supporting others.
    • Tenacity: Ensuring tasks are completed.
  2. The Project Phases:
    • Projects progress through three stages—brainstorming, set-up, and follow-through—with two geniuses (one passive, one active) suited to each phase.
  3. Levels of Ability:
    • Individuals typically:
      • Excel in two geniuses.
      • Are competent in two.
      • Feel frustrated by two.
    • Aligning tasks with strengths prevents burnout and improves morale.

The Six Geniuses in Project Phases

Phase 1: Brainstorming

  • Purpose: Identify opportunities and generate solutions.
  • Genius 1 (Passive): Wonder
    • Observes gaps or opportunities in the status quo.
    • Example: Identifies overpriced competitor products as an opening for improvement.
  • Genius 2 (Active): Invention
    • Creates innovative solutions to capitalize on opportunities.
    • Example: Proposes alternative materials to produce a better product.

Phase 2: Set-Up

  • Purpose: Evaluate ideas and build team alignment.
  • Genius 3 (Passive): Discernment
    • Assesses the feasibility and practicality of ideas.
    • Example: Highlights supply chain issues and proposes reliable sources.
  • Genius 4 (Active): Galvanizing
    • Inspires and aligns the team with the project’s vision.
    • Example: Motivates team members by emphasizing the disruptive potential of a new product.

Phase 3: Follow-Through

  • Purpose: Ensure execution and quality.
  • Genius 5 (Passive): Enablement
    • Offers support proactively to meet team needs.
    • Example: Simplifies technical details for better marketing communication.
  • Genius 6 (Active): Tenacity
    • Focuses on completing tasks on time and upholding quality.
    • Example: Manages product launch deadlines and ensures quality standards.

Practical Application

Mapping Team Strengths

  • Create a chart with the six geniuses listed by project phase.
  • Assign team members to the genius types they excel in and those they find frustrating.
  • Use this map to identify gaps in strengths and plan reorganization or hiring.

Recognizing Levels of Ability

  • Align tasks with team members’ strengths (genius types) for optimal performance.
  • Avoid assigning tasks in areas where individuals experience frustration to prevent disengagement.

Benefits of Lencioni’s Model

  1. Improved Leadership:
    • Leaders can allocate roles effectively by understanding team strengths and weaknesses.
  2. Increased Productivity:
    • Teams operate more efficiently when aligned with their natural abilities.
  3. Higher Employee Satisfaction:
    • Employees feel fulfilled when working in areas of strength.
  4. Stronger Team Cohesion:
    • Collaborative dynamics improve when tasks align with individual talents.

Comparison to Traditional Project Models

  • Unlike traditional four-phase models (initiation, planning, execution, and closure), Lencioni’s framework emphasizes:
    • Matching genius types to specific tasks.
    • Integrating natural abilities into each project phase for enhanced team dynamics.

Challenges and Considerations

  • Identifying geniuses may require time and self-assessment.
  • Gaps in team strengths might necessitate new hires or training.
  • Overreliance on certain team members can lead to burnout if not managed properly.

Conclusion

Lencioni’s The 6 Types of Working Genius provides a practical framework for aligning individual strengths with team needs, fostering productivity, fulfillment, and organizational success. By recognizing and leveraging natural abilities, teams can achieve more cohesive and efficient outcomes.