The Six Types of Working Genius
Forge is an Certified Working Genius Facilitator and frequently incorporates the Working Genius model to help teams improve collaboration, reduce frustration, and increase productivity.
Working Genius is a productivity and teamwork framework developed by Patrick Lencioni and The Table Group that helps people identify the types of work that naturally give them energy and fulfillment, as well as the work that tends to drain them. Unlike traditional personality assessments, Working Genius focuses on how people contribute to getting work done and where they create the most value.
The model identifies six types of work that are present in virtually every project, initiative, or organizational effort:
Wonder – identifying opportunities, challenges, and unmet needs
Invention – generating new ideas and solutions
Discernment – evaluating and refining ideas
Galvanizing – rallying people into action
Enablement – supporting and assisting others in execution
Tenacity – driving work through completion and ensuring results
These six activities make up the three stages of work:
Ideation (Wonder and Invention)
Activation (Discernment and Galvanizing)
Implementation (Enablement and Tenacity)
Each person receives a profile that identifies their two areas of Working Genius (work that energizes them), two areas of Working Competency (work they can do well but that eventually drains them), and two areas of Working Frustration (work that consistently depletes their energy).
For individuals, Working Genius provides language and insight to better understand their strengths, frustrations, and ideal contributions. Many people find it clarifies why certain work feels engaging and meaningful while other work feels exhausting, even when they are capable of doing it. Research has shown that Working Genius helps people better understand themselves, their work satisfaction, and the types of work that energize or drain them.
For teams, Working Genius helps members understand one another's natural contributions, identify strengths and gaps across the team, reduce unnecessary frustration, and improve collaboration by ensuring the right people are involved at the right stage of work.
A Working Genius debrief goes beyond simply reviewing assessment results. It helps individuals and teams understand how work flows from idea to execution, where energy is gained or lost, and how to align responsibilities so people can contribute more effectively, sustainably, and with greater satisfaction.
