The 6 Types of Working Genius: A Better Way to Understand Your Gifts, Your Frustrations, and Your Team by Patrick Lencioni
Do you experience the Sunday Blues – that feeling of dread or anxiety that often sets in as the weekend comes to a close?
The 6 Types of Working Genius, by Patrick Lencioni, starts with a fable. The main character, Bull, an economics major, begins his career as a bank teller, only to realize the role didn’t suit him. He often found himself experiencing the Sunday Blues. He changed positions within the bank and found work he loved. In the new position, he thrived—until he was promoted. Suddenly, the Sunday Blues returned. After years of cycling through fulfillment and dread throughout his career, he discovered that creative work lifted him up, but he struggled with tasks outside his natural genius. The key isn’t just skill but alignment: finding work that energizes rather than drains you.
Read more of my book review below.
This morning, while doing the seemingly mindless task of cleaning stalls for my horses, I listened to The 6 Types of Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni—for the second time. Lencioni, a renowned author and leadership consultant, is known for his insightful books on personal and professional development. The first time I listened, I’ll admit, I skipped much of the fable at the beginning of the book, eager to dive into the details of the assessment itself. I let the story unfold this time, and I am so glad I did.
Lencioni’s books always begin with a fable. To my delight, the main character in this one, Bull, was an economics major (like me!) who started his career as a bank teller in his first job. Bull didn’t enjoy the role, so he switched departments, found work he loved, and thrived—until he was promoted. Suddenly, the Sunday Blues returned.
His career, marked by moments of fulfillment followed by the return of dissatisfaction, especially when his roles required heavy focus on responsibilities outside his natural areas of genius, is a familiar one to many of us. Eventually, he discovered his true geniuses: Invention and Discernment.
In Lencioni’s model, there are six types of “Working Genius,” each representing an essential part of how we contribute at work:
- Wonder: Seeing possibilities and asking big questions.
- Invention: Creating new ideas and solutions.
- Discernment: Evaluating ideas with intuition and insight.
- Galvanizing: Rallying others to take action on ideas.
- Enablement: Supporting and assisting others to achieve goals.
- Tenacity: Driving projects to completion with persistence.
While Bull thrived in Invention and Discernment, spending too much time on Galvanizing and Enablement drained his energy, even though he was good at these tasks.
Listening to Bull’s story was like looking into a mirror. I, too, have experienced the ebb and flow of work satisfaction. But the key, I realized, is not about skill—it’s about alignment. Recognizing our natural strengths, what energizes us versus what drains us, can be a game-changer in how we approach work and life. It’s a beacon of hope, showing that a shift in perspective can lead to a more fulfilling work life.
It’s a powerful reminder that the Sunday Blues, a feeling of dread or anxiety that often sets in as the weekend comes to a close, might be more than a sign of a busy week ahead—they could be a clue that your work isn’t aligned with your genius. When you embrace your natural strengths, you leave the Sunday Blues behind and find joy in your work again.
How about you? Do you recognize the Sunday Blues in your life? It may be your genius calling you to realign. Take a moment to reflect on your own experiences. What tasks or roles energize you? What drains your energy? This self-reflection can be the first step towards aligning your work with your genius. It’s an empowering exercise that puts you in the driver’s seat of your career satisfaction.
Read More:
Lencioni, P. M. (2022). The 6 types of working genius: A better way to understand your gifts, your frustrations, and your team. Matt Holt Books. Amazon
Book Summary: 6 Types of Working Genius,
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