What Is “Wonder” in Working Genius? (And Why It Matters More Than You Think)

“I feel like we could do this better.”

Be honest—what was your reaction when you read that??

Is this something you find yourself thinking on a regular basis? Or, is there someone in your life—co-working, boss, partner, friend—who is always asking a version of that question…

….and quite frankly, driving you a little nuts? 😄

If you said yes to either one, welcome to Wonder.

In the Six Types of Working Genius, Wonder is the W in WIDGET—and it’s where everything begins (whether you’re starting a work project or planning a surprise birthday party.)

Not with action or a plan, but with a subtle kind of dissatisfaction. Not the “everything is terrible” kind. More like, “Hmmmmm, I wonder if there’s an easier way?”

A person with the Working Genius of Wonder might say:

“I feel like something isn’t working here…”

“Why do we do it this way?”

“Should we be doing this differently?”

They notice the gaps, inefficiencies and missed opportunities. And they spot the need before anyone else even realizes there even is one.

This is the starting point of change. Of growth, and of making things (hopefully) better. And yes, it can sometimes create more work. But that matters!

Imagine if no one, waaaay back when, looked at a hand cart and thought, “There has to be an easier way to get this produce to the market.” We’d still be hauling things around the hard way.

Here’s where it gets really interesting:

If someone around you is constantly wondering out loud—“Is there a better way to do that?!?!?” You might feel your energy drain immediately.

Maybe you find yourself avoiding them in the hallway and suddenly having ‘bad reception’ on the phone.

OR…… Maybe you’re the one being asked to figure out what’s not working. Like being tasked with streamlining a system….. from scratch. 😵‍💫 Instead of feeling energized, you feel exhausted just thinking about it.

That’s because, even though we can all access Wonder, it doesn’t energize everyone.

For some people, Wonder lights them up! For others, it feels like work. Neither is wrong! But understanding it is powerful.

This is where a different kind of boundary starts to matter—not just with people, but with how your energy is being used.

If your days are filled with work that drains you (like being asked to constantly “figure out what’s not working” when that’s not how you’re wired” it might not be a motivation problem. It might be a boundary worth looking at.

Here’s your invitation:

How do you react when you hear, “I feel like something isn’t working here…?” What happens in your body when someone points out a gap or inefficiency?

Do you get curious about it? or quietly disappear and hope someone else takes it on?

What about the people in your life? The ones who ask questions, challenge the way things are done, or always seem to see what’s missing before everyone else does?

That’s Wonder, too.

Please remember: Wonder isn’t negativity—it’s your system noticing what no longer fits.

For now, just observe. Notice when you’re energized by discovering gaps…. And when you’re drained by them.

And MAYBE you can thank the people who DO notice them. Because without them we’d be pushing our lives around on a hand card. And THAT sounds utterly exhausting. :D

If you’re curious if Wonder if one of your natural strengths, you can take the Working Genius Assessment here.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll keep walking through WIDGET, so you can start to see where your energy flows…. And where it quietly leaks.