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5 Practical Leadership Development Strategies That Work

Session 3: Senior Leadership Program: Customer Focus & Accountability

_"If you want to be successful and fulfilled in your work, you must tap into your gifts. That can't happen if you don't know what those gifts are." -_ Patrick Lencioni, leadership speaker

As will be explained at Pat Lencioni's [Australian live virtual event](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/events/PatrickLencioni-BuildingHighPeformingTeams/overview?sid=a0KRG00000BELB92AP) in February 2025, unhappy staff and low trust can [destroy teams.](https://www.thegrowthfaculty.com/blog/patricklencionivideosteamdysfunction?recacheSoql=true)

One sign of effective leadership is happy staff. Happy workers are 13% more productive, according to a recent Oxford University study. They make [better leaders](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1048984315001022) and they clock up [fewer mistakes](https://www.gallup.com/services/177050/economics-wellbeing.aspx). But, [up to 80%](https://www.gallup.com/workplace/238085/state-american-workplace-report-2017.aspx) of adults see work as something to be endured, not enjoyed.

**Finding happiness** and fulfilment at work is easier when you're doing more of **what you're good at** and less of what frustrates you, said Patrick Lencioni, bestselling author of [_The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team_](https://www.thegrowthfaculty.com/blog/fivedysfunctionsofateam), at our live virtual Global Headline event _The 6 Types of Working Genius in a Fulfilled & Engaged Team_.

So, what makes you happy or frustrated? In other words, which "type" are you?

Here we summarise insights from a recent Pat Lencioni live virtual session, his latest book _6 Types of Working Genius_, and what **I discovered** about myself (including **my weak points** ) when trying his diagnostic tool out!

[**Free Download** :](https://thegrowthfaculty.ac-page.com/leadershipqualities) [10 Leadership Qualities That Will Help Solve Challenges in 2024](https://ideas.growthfaculty.com/l/1071223/2024-06-12/5q9w2q)

Luckily, we all have a great natural ability to perform in certain areas. Research proves you are more content in your areas of working genius - tasks that bring you joy and energy.

To find out your areas, Patrick Lencioni's The Table Group has launched a fascinating diagnostic tool [The 6 Types of Working Genius.](https://www.workinggenius.com/) The tool makes it easy to discern where a person has intelligence and skill relative to their professional responsibilities. It outlines six types of geniuses, each who have character identifiable by remarkable talent in a particular area.

Discover Your Working Genius for a Fulfilling Life

Sir Isaac Newton (above) probably had Invention and Wonder as his areas of working genius.

Below is a brief overview of the 6 Types of Working Genius tool and how the tool helps individuals identify their natural gifts and talents. It's a fascinating process, so I'll share my own results after working through it.

The 6 Types of Working Genius Diagnostic Tool

First, let's look at each genius type and the corresponding natural gift it's likely you possess.

1.  Wonder - you see potential.
2.  Invention - you see ideas.
3.  Discernment - you assess ideas.
4.  Galvanizing - you rally others to act on ideas.
5.  Enablement - you help to bring ideas to life.
6.  Tenacity - you push ideas to completion.

Note, I've paraphrased The Table Group's descriptions. Their full explanation of each type shortly.

Understanding the 6 Types of Geniuses

A healthy working culture is essential for us feel [valued](https://www.thegrowthfaculty.com/blog/howtomakeemployeesfeelvalued). But our overall happiness in life may also depend on whether were doing things where we naturally have talents: our areas of working genius.

Patrick Lencioni says by tapping into our areas of working genius MORE, and engaging in our areas of weakness LESS, we can find joy and energy.

By finding our ability to lead with our strengths, be they words, intellect, science, originality or creative expression, we gain a more fulfilling sense of wellbeing and the teams we lead excel in achieving goals fitted to their exceptional natural capacity.

Importance of Tapping into Your Areas of Working Genius

Insights from the Working Genius Tool

The Table Group's new interactive tool selects 2 likely matches from 6 types of genius:

*   **The genius of wonder**

![The Genius of Wonder](https://bucket-growthfaculty-strapi-images.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/Wonder_7f36af4c0e.png)

This is the natural gift of pondering the greater potential and opportunity in any given situation.

*   **The genius of invention**

![Invention.png](https://bucket-growthfaculty-strapi-images.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/Invention_7ed66ef065.png)

This is the natural gift of creating original and novel ideas and solutions.

*   **The genius of discernment**

![The Genius of Discernment](https://bucket-growthfaculty-strapi-images.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/Discernment_497edd875f.png)

The natural gift of intuitively and instinctively evaluating ideas and situations.

*   **The genius of galvanizing**

![The Genius of Galvanizing](https://bucket-growthfaculty-strapi-images.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/Galvanizing_51ee54f24e.png)

The natural gift of rallying, inspiring and organizing others to take action.

*   **The genius of enablement**

![The Genius of Enablement](https://bucket-growthfaculty-strapi-images.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/Enablement_548b53d040.png)

The natural gift of providing encouragement and assistance for an idea or project.

*   **The genius of tenacity**

![The Genius of Tenacity](https://bucket-growthfaculty-strapi-images.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/Tenacity_1aa373ab39.png)

The natural gift of pushing projects or tasks to completion to achieve results.

So, what's it like to discover your own area of working genius?

After submitting my completed diagnostic, I received a report that revealed my areas of working genius to be **invention** and **enablement**.

People with the genius of invention tend to think and say, _What about this?_ This is bang on for me; I've even held two patents from IP Australia. I am happiest when throwing ideas around.

Enablement also seems right for me. I get joy from seeing others achieve their goals. "_A person with the genius of enablement tends to think and say, 'Let me know how I can help.'"_

Embracing Your Working Genius

The tool also lists 2 areas that are not as strong as working genius but fall under working competency.

My likely areas of working competency are:

*   **Discernment** I use my intuition and instincts to evaluate and assess ideas. _I think you're onto something._
*   **Wonder** I can see greater potential and opportunity in a given situation. _Couldn't this be better?_

Areas of working competency

At this point of the report I feel found out.

The tool cleverly discerns that I'm **not a gifted master of execution** nor do I love rallying others to take action.

My areas of working frustration are:

*   **Galvanising** or inspiring people around a project, task, or idea. _I need you to join my team._
*   **Tenacity** - pushing tasks and projects through to completion. _If we miss our goal, I'm going to be really disappointed._

Like the report says, "You **aren't naturally gifted** at and/or derive energy and joy from these tasks." Yup, that's me to a "T." I prefer the shiny new projects over the unfinished, problematic ones.

Areas of working frustration

Each of us has something exceptional to bring to work.

Patrick Lencioni calls these our gifts. And, like a birthday gift, we might keep them wrapped up and unopened at work. **Low trust** like this can [destroy teams](https://www.thegrowthfaculty.com/blog/patricklencionivideosteamdysfunction). In fact, Pat told the masterclass that if you can build vulnerability-based trust on a team it changes everything

"It's liberating to know that every person who comes to work will be human," he says. "But the leader has to go first, and show their character is authentically vulnerable."

One new step on the path to doing this is sharing our hidden areas of working genius - which not only builds trust and reduces judgement, but will make work lives more fulfilling and ourselves happier.

_Find out the Top 10 Leadership Qualities this year, and see how you measure up. Download our FREE guide:_ [_**https://thegrowthfaculty.co/leadershipqualities**_](https://thegrowthfaculty.co/leadershipqualities)

Summary

Want to keep up with the latest ideas and thinking from the brightest minds in the world?

Discover your potential by learning from the best with [Growth Faculty annual membership](https://join.thegrowthfaculty.com/#plans).

They say that when organisations are **moving fast**, there's rarely enough time and space for informal training and support, particularly for managers.

Our [immersive live virtual learning program](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/) with Growth Faculty membership is one option to consider when researching how best to develop leaders.

Growth Faculty recently launched a good value [Enterprise plan](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/#plans) for larger companies to develop leadership skills in teams of 20 or more employees.

Pat Lencioni's [Australian live virtual event](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/events/PatrickLencioni-BuildingHighPeformingTeams/overview?sid=a0KRG00000BELB92AP) is in February 2025. Growth Faculty members get Pat Lencioni live virtual sessions included in their membership.

6 Types of Working Genius: Leadership tool from Patrick Lencioni

Work happiness linked to discovering your areas of working genius

Keep informed
Stay Inspired

6 Types of Working Genius: Leadership tool from Patrick Lencioni

Work happiness linked to discovering your areas of working genius

Keep informedStay Inspired

Keep informed
Stay Inspired