The Six Types of Working Genius: Understanding Where Your Energy Naturally Lives

Alright, What Does All This Mean?

This week, we are wrapping up the Six Types of Working Genius (WIDGET) and pulling it all together—in the order that any project or plan naturally flows (even if you unintentionally skipped over the parts that happen to be your Frustrations). 😊

First, all hail the WIDGET!

W = Wonder

This is the genius where someone looks around and thinks that things could be better. This person easily recognizes the need. It's some combination of curiosity and dissatisfaction.

It might sound like:

• "I feel like something isn't working here."

• "Why do we do it this way?"

Note: This genius needs a topic or idea to wonder about, so don't mistake their contemplation for laziness or a lack of motivation.

I = Invention

The person with the Working Genius of Invention comes up with ideas and generates creative solutions (or two or three).

It may sound like:

• "What if we tried...?"

• "I have three possible ways we could handle this."

Note: This genius loves coming up with solutions! Make sure to celebrate their great ideas before you politely ask them to pause on new solutions until you can see if the current one will work.

D = Discernment

The person with this genius uses both their gut and their wisdom to evaluate an idea. They have the gift of intuitive judgment and use intuition and experience to understand what's viable.

It might sound like:

• "This one feels like it's the right direction."

• "I'm not sure this one will work because..."

Note: This genius isn't exactly energized by looking at a blank slate, so remember to give them something to work with.

G = Galvanizing

This Working Genius rallies people into action. It looks like activation plus momentum.

It might sound like:

• "Alright, let's do this. Here's what we're going to do next."

• "You handle this part; I'll take care of that."

Note: This person gets energized by action, so respect that energy even if you need to hold off just a bit longer while the plan gets finalized.

E = Enablement

The person with this Working Genius jumps in to help everyone else. It looks like responding and assisting.

It might sound like:

• "I can take that off your plate for you."

• "Want me to handle that?"

Note: This person truly gets energy from helping. Don't feel like you're burdening them if you need help—just ask!

T = Tenacity

This genius makes sure it actually gets finished. It looks like completion and follow-through as they see it all the way to the end.

It may sound like:

• "We're not done yet."

• "Let's close this loop completely."

Note: This genius is fabulous at wrapping things up. Lean into them when your energy starts to wane during the last 10% of a project.

To Recap:

W – "I think this could be better."
I – "I have an idea!"
D – "I feel like that will work."
G – "Awesome, let's do this!"
E – "How can I help?"
T – "Let's finish this up."

Every task or project has these six phases. Every single one. It's an interdependent model, which means no one type is "better" than another. They're all necessary.

We each have two areas of Working Genius that feel almost effortless. These are our God-given talents, our natural gifts. They give us energy, joy, and a sense of, "Oh! This is what I'm supposed to be doing."

We also have two areas of Working Competency. We can absolutely do these things, and often do them well. But if we stay there too long, we start to feel drained.

And then there are our two Working Frustrations. The things that make us wonder if everyone else got some sort of instruction manual that we somehow missed.

One of my fellow Working Genius Facilitators came up with a brilliant analogy that has stuck with me ever since.

Your Frustrations are like riding a bike uphill. You can do it, but it takes a lot of effort, and you get tired pretty quickly.

Your Competencies are like riding on a flat road. You're moving along just fine, but eventually you're going to start wondering how much farther you have to go.

And your Geniuses? That's the downhill ride. Things feel easier. More natural. More fun. You have more energy, not less.

Personally, I have found Working Genius to be extremely helpful in understanding myself and the people around me. I’ve stopped asking myself, “What’s wrong with me?” when something wears me out and I started to realize, “Oh, I don’t get energy from doing that.”

Even better, for me Working Genius has become another way of understanding boundaries. Not boundaries with other people, but boundaries with my own energy. It has helped me recognize where I naturally thrive, where I can push through for a while, and where I am most likely to spring an energy leak without even realizing it. More importantly, it has helped me create more balance by understanding that I don’t have to force myself to work the same way that other people do in order to be valuable.

Because maybe the goal isn't to become good at everything.

Maybe the goal is to understand how you're wired, appreciate how other people are wired, and spend a little more time riding downhill.

Interested in learning your own Working Genius? You can take the assessment here.