What are the Six Types of Working Genius?
Why do some parts of your work energise you while others leave you exhausted?
Have you ever noticed that there are certain parts of your work that seem to give you energy, while other tasks leave you feeling drained—even if you're perfectly capable of doing them?
Many people assume this is simply part of working life. We often believe that if we're good at something, we should enjoy doing it. But those two things are not always the same.
This is one of the central insights behind The Six Types of Working Genius, developed by Patrick Lencioni and the Table Group.
Working Genius is not primarily a personality assessment. Nor is it another strengths profile. Instead, it provides a practical framework for understanding the different kinds of work that every project requires and identifies the types of work that naturally energise you, those you can do competently, and those that consistently drain you.
For individuals, this often explains why some days feel deeply satisfying while others leave us exhausted. For teams, it creates a shared language that helps people appreciate one another's different contributions and collaborate more effectively.
More than a personality profile
One of the things that makes Working Genius different from many other workplace assessments is its focus on work itself.
Rather than describing your personality, communication style or preferences, Working Genius explores how work moves from an idea to successful completion.
Patrick Lencioni suggests that every meaningful project moves through six distinct stages. Each stage is essential. When one stage is missing—or when the wrong people are carrying too much of a particular type of work—individuals become frustrated and teams lose momentum.
