In The 6 Types of Working Genius, Patrick Lencioni introduces a transformative framework designed to help individuals and teams identify their natural gifts and optimize collaboration. Moving beyond traditional personality tests or skill assessments, Lencioni’s model focuses on the core energies that drive productivity, creativity, and satisfaction in work.

This fresh approach categorizes work into six “geniuses” — distinct types of talents that contribute to how ideas are generated, developed, and delivered. Understanding which types resonate with you and your team not only clarifies roles but also reduces burnout, frustration, and misalignment.

Whether you’re a team leader, HR professional, or individual contributor, this book equips you with practical tools to recognize where you thrive and how to work smarter with others—ultimately maximizing engagement and results.

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💡 Top 10 Lessons from The 6 Types of Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni

1. Everyone Has Two Working Geniuses

Each person naturally excels at two of the six geniuses, which represent the stages of work: Wonder, Discernment, Galvanizing, Enablement, Tenacity, and Invention.

Identifying your geniuses helps you focus on where you add the most value and energy.

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2. Working Frustration Comes From Operating Outside Your Genius

When people spend too much time on tasks that don’t align with their natural gifts, frustration and burnout increase dramatically.

Aligning roles with working genius leads to higher engagement and effectiveness.

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3. Teams Need a Balance of All Six Geniuses to Succeed

No one can do it all. High-performing teams cover the full spectrum, ensuring ideas are imagined, evaluated, rallied around, supported, executed, and refined.

Diverse geniuses complement each other to create sustainable momentum.

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4. Understanding Genius Drives Better Hiring and Role Design

By assessing candidates’ working geniuses, organizations can better match people to roles where they will excel and contribute most meaningfully.

Hiring for genius alignment reduces turnover and increases team harmony.

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5. People Tend to Overvalue Their Working Competency Over Genius

Lencioni distinguishes between “working competency” (skills learned) and “working genius” (natural talent). Success comes from leveraging your genius rather than just competence.

Mastery of your genius yields more energy and impact than mastering tasks outside it.

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6. Working Frustration Signals a Genius Out of Alignment

If you feel stuck or frustrated, it’s often because you’re spending excessive time on your “working frustration” — the geniuses where you have little or no natural ability.

Recognizing frustration as a sign to realign focus is key to productivity and wellbeing.

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7. Leaders Should Build Teams That Complement Their Own Genius

Great leaders surround themselves with people whose geniuses fill in their gaps, creating balanced teams that drive innovation and execution.

Leadership isn’t about doing everything but about orchestrating genius diversity.

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8. The Model Enhances Collaboration and Conflict Resolution

When team members understand their own and others’ geniuses, miscommunications decrease, and respect for different contributions grows.

Genius awareness fosters empathy and constructive collaboration.

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9. Not Every Role Requires Every Genius

Some roles emphasize invention, while others prioritize tenacity or enablement. Matching geniuses to job functions optimizes efficiency.

Role clarity based on genius types sharpens focus and performance.

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10. Self-Awareness of Your Working Genius Is a Career Game-Changer

Knowing your genius empowers you to pursue projects and careers that fit your strengths, leading to greater fulfillment and success.

Aligning work with your genius fuels passion, productivity, and longevity.

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🧠 Final Thought

The 6 Types of Working Genius offers a practical, insightful framework for individuals and organizations striving to unlock their full potential. Patrick Lencioni’s model goes beyond surface-level personality traits, diving into the fundamental energies that make work meaningful and effective. Whether you’re building a new team, rethinking your career, or solving workplace frustration, this book provides a clear roadmap to harness natural talents and create thriving, unstoppable teams.