Book of the Month - December 2023
The 6 Types of Working Genuis
Patrick Lencioni - ISBN: 978-1637743294 - 2022
Author:
Patrick Lencioni
Patrick M. Lencioni is the author of more than a dozen best-selling books, including The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, The Ideal Team Player, and The Advantage. The pioneer of the organizational health movement, he has become one of the most sought-after speakers in the world. Pat’s firm, The Table Group, has consulted with thousands of leaders around the globe, in every type of industry, from corporations to start-ups, from churches to non-profits. Pat has been married to his wife, Laura, for thirty years and they have been blessed with four sons.
Brief Synopsis:
New York Times best-selling author Patrick Lencioni unveils a truly groundbreaking new model that will change the way we think about work and teams forever.
The 6 Types of Working Genius is the fastest way to help people identify the type of work that brings them joy and energy, and avoid work that leads to frustration and burnout.
Beyond the personal discovery and instant relief that Working Genius provides, the model also gives teams a remarkably simple and practical framework for tapping into one another’s natural gifts, which increases productivity and reduces unnecessary judgment.
In classic Lencioni fashion, Pat brings his model to life in a page-turning fable that is as relatable as it is compelling. He tells the story of Bull Brooks, an entrepreneur, husband, and father who sets out to solve his own frustration at work and stumbles into a new way of thinking that changes the way he sees his work, his team, and even his marriage.
What sets this book—and the model behind it—apart from other tools and assessments is the speed at which it can be understood and applied, and the relevance it has to every kind of work in life, from running a company to launching a product to managing a family.
In addition to this book, Lencioni and the Table Group have created a 10-minute assessment that helps individuals quickly identify their gifts and apply this model to themselves and their teams. Join the hundreds of thousands of people who have already discovered their Working Genius, and experience the transformation in your work, your team, and your life.
Learn more about the Working Genius at WorkingGenius.com.
Insights:
“The six types defined: Wonder -> Invention - > Discernment -> Galvanizing -> Enablement -> Tenancity” - pg 181
“Genius vs. Competency vs. Frustration - Even though each type is called a genius, no one person can claim all six as their individual geniuses. We all have areas where we thrive, areas where we struggle, and areas that fall somewhere in between.” - pg. 181
“A leadership team cannot be cohesive if its members don’t understand and tap into one another’s geniuses.” - pg. 215
“A different but related problem experienced by many people who are stuck doing work that is not aligned with their gifts is burnout.” - pg. 223
Should I read it or skip it?
Normally I am really big on Pat Lencioni’s book. However, in this case, I don’t think this book gets the reader where we want to go. I felt like he does a great job unpacking the concept of the “Working Genius” for the reader. The book lives up to the expected parable/model style Lencioni utilizes in most of his books. However, with so many types of personality tests and strengths finders, this one feels like just another to figure out. The other part of this book is the utilization of people’s giftings. What if you have a secretary or intern with Wonder? Do you release them from their job to perform the role? Do you put people into other positions and for large companies or teams, do you change the hierarchy of reports based on the Genius model? I am sure this process works well in a small business but I am not sure of the scalability.
I love Lencioni and have read almost everything he has written. I think we have to figure out the usability issue. The church where I currently work uses both the Enneagram and several tests to hire. In reading this book as a team, we mapped out who on the team has the different giftings. However, we don’t have a clear or consistent strategy for healing to implement the model into our overall team or individual teams.
Definitely a good read. I wouldn’t skip it but I wouldn’t look to base my entire life on the insights either.
