The 6 Types of Working Genius
I remember early in my management career being handed a copy of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. At the time, I found it incredibly relatable and have gone on to recommend it to many colleagues and friends over the years.
To my knowledge though, The 6 Types of Working Genius is the first Patrick Lencioni book I’ve picked up since. Looking back, it’s quite surprising if I’m honest given the depth of his catalogue and my interest in management books. Having now rediscovered his work though, I’ve already added several more of his books to my Audible wish list.
At this stage in my career, I partner with an IT consultancy, supporting not only client engagements but also the development of their internal teams, ensuring the right people are matched to the right work. With that in mind, whilst many of the underlying ideas weren’t entirely new to me, the way Lencioni packages them makes this an excellent and very practical book for leaders.
The book uses a fictional business narrative to demonstrate how understanding the six working genius types can uncover the real causes of frustration within teams whilst helping individuals identify the work that naturally energises them.
The six genius types; Wonder, Invention, Discernment, Galvanizing, Enablement and Tenacity aren’t necessarily revolutionary concepts. In many ways, you’ll probably recognise each one from your own experience and the people you work with. The real strength of the book lies in how Lencioni brings them together into a simple framework that is easily memorable and immediately applicable.
Rather than focusing solely on strengths or weaknesses, the model helps explain why certain types of work energises us whilst others quickly become draining. That understanding can make a real difference when building teams, allocating work or simply helping colleagues better understand one another.
At under 200 pages, it’s a quick read and one that lends itself well to being shared across teams. I can easily see it becoming useful material for development conversations, performance reviews and leadership workshops.
Who's It For?
Whilst anyone working as part of a team will gain something from this book, I think it delivers the greatest value for those in leadership and management positions.
If you're responsible for building teams, developing people or improving collaboration, this provides a practical framework. From there, it becomes an easy recommendation to share with your own teams as a way of creating a common language around strengths, frustrations and how people work best together.