Understanding Your Team's Genius

Empowering Your Management Team: How The Six Types of Working Genius Drives Higher Morale, Engagement, and Reduces Attrition

Over the last 15 years, I have worked with HR Directors in small and mid-size organizations who are striving to create management teams that are not only high-performing but also deeply engaged and invested in their work. One of the easiest and most effective frameworks I’ve found to help leaders achieve this is The Six Types of Working Genius.

This model is a powerful tool for unlocking the potential within your management team, fostering higher morale, deeper engagement, and ultimately reducing attrition. Let's walk through how it works and how it can make a tangible difference in your organization.

What are The Six Types of Working Genius?

The Six Types of Working Genius, developed by Patrick Lencioni, breaks down work into six key activities that all teams need to succeed. Each of your team members has two “geniuses” where they naturally excel, two areas of “competence” where they can function but not thrive, and two areas of “frustration” where they struggle.

The six types are:

1. Wonder: Pondering possibilities and asking big questions to spark new ideas.

2. Invention: Generating fresh solutions and creative problem-solving.

3. Discernment: Using intuition and judgment to evaluate ideas and solutions.

4. Galvanizing: Rallying and motivating others to take action.

5. Enablement: Providing support and helping others achieve their goals.

6. Tenacity: Driving projects to completion and ensuring they meet expectations.

The Power of Knowing Your Team’s Genius

Understanding the geniuses of your management teams offers three clear benefits:

1. Higher Morale: When leaders and their teams are working within their areas of genius, they feel a sense of accomplishment and joy in their work. Too often, individuals are placed in roles or given responsibilities that draw on areas of frustration, leading to burnout or dissatisfaction. By identifying where each manager excels, you can assign tasks and roles that align with their strengths, resulting in a more energized and motivated team.

2. More Engagement: Engagement is driven by purpose and alignment with strengths. Managers who know their genius—and are encouraged to work within it—are more likely to be engaged and productive. For example, a leader whose genius is Discernment can be tasked with evaluating new initiatives or making strategic decisions, allowing them to shine and contribute meaningfully. When managers are engaged, that energy is passed on to their teams, creating a ripple effect of productivity and collaboration.

3. Less Attrition: One of the biggest reasons employees leave organizations is a misalignment between their role and their strengths. By leveraging the Working Genius model, HR Directors can ensure that leaders are not stuck in areas of frustration for extended periods, which reduces burnout and increases retention. When managers feel that their contributions are both valued and aligned with their natural talents, they are more likely to stay, grow, and thrive in their roles.

How to Use The Six Types of Working Genius

1. Assess the Management Team: The first step is to have your management team complete the Working Genius assessment. This will help you understand where each person’s natural talents lie and identify any gaps in your team’s collective strengths.

2. Align Roles with Geniuses: Once you have the results, you can begin aligning roles and responsibilities with each manager’s genius. For example, if you have a manager whose genius is Galvanizing, ensure they motivate and rally teams around key initiatives. A manager whose genius is Enablement will excel at providing support and resources to their peers and direct reports.

3. Build Balanced Teams: A well-rounded team has a mix of all six types of genius, ensuring that all aspects of a project or initiative—from ideation to execution—are covered. As an HR Director, you can use this model to create teams that complement each other’s strengths, leading to more seamless collaboration and less internal conflict.

4. Develop Leadership Potential: Knowing one's genius allows for more focused development for those in leadership positions. Leaders can better understand their blind spots and leverage the strengths of others to fill in gaps, creating a more cohesive and resilient leadership team.

5. Increase Recognition and Appreciation: Finally, recognizing and appreciating each manager for their unique genius fosters a culture of respect and appreciation. When team members feel seen for their strengths, morale and engagement increase significantly.

Why It Works for Small to Mid-Size Organizations

For mid-size organizations, where resources may be more limited and teams need to wear many hats, The Six Types of Working Genius is especially impactful. It helps HR leaders like yourself optimize the talent you already have by aligning people with roles that maximize their potential. It also fosters a sense of unity and shared purpose, which is essential in mid-size companies where collaboration across departments is key.

By implementing The Six Types of Working Genius within your management team, you will not only improve individual and team performance but also create a healthier, more engaged work culture—one where people are excited to contribute and stay for the long haul.

Ready to Transform Your Management Team?

At Inspired Consulting Solutions, we specialize in helping HR Directors unlock the potential within their teams using proven frameworks like The Six Types of Working Genius. Our tailored approach ensures that your management team is high-performing, deeply engaged, and aligned with their strengths.

Let's start a conversation if you’re ready to foster higher morale, deeper engagement, and reduce attrition within your organization. Together, we can create a management team that drives success, one genius at a time.