Ever notice how some tasks make hours fly by, while others leave you counting minutes? That difference isn’t about motivation; it’s about Working Genius.

Patrick Lencioni’s Working Genius model is a simple yet powerful framework that helps individuals understand the types of work that bring them joy and energy. It’s designed to solve a common problem: many people spend their days doing work that drains them, rather than work that fuels them.

At T2, we see this every day in our leadership programmes. When people lean into what energises them, performance soars — not just for individuals, but for teams, and whole organisations too.

The Six Types of Working Genius

Lencioni divides all work into six categories: three focus on idea generation and three on implementation of those ideas.

1. Wonder

The genius of curiosity and reflection. People with this genius love asking, “What if?” They see what could be improved and are driven by curiosity and possibility.

2. Invention

The genius of creativity. Inventors get joy from building new ideas and solving problems in innovative ways.

3. Discernment

The genius of intuition and judgement. These people just know when something feels right. They sense what will work, and what won’t, often without needing all the data.

4. Galvanising

The genius of motivation. Galvanisers rally people into action, turning ideas into momentum. They love inspiring others to get on board and make things happen.

5. Enablement

The genius of support. Enablers thrive when helping others succeed. They build collaboration and create an environment where ideas come to life.

6. Tenacity

The genius of execution. People with Tenacity are driven to complete what they start. They thrive on achieving goals and seeing things through to the end.

Everyone has a unique combination of these six types — but only two are your true Working Geniuses. These are the activities that consistently give you energy and joy.

Two others are your Working Competencies, things you can do well, but don’t particularly enjoy.
And the remaining two? Those are your Working Frustrations, the tasks that drain you and can lead to burnout if they dominate your day.

Recognising this balance is powerful. It helps you design your work (and your team’s work) around energy, not just skill.

Why It Matters for Leaders and Teams

Knowing your Working Genius isn’t just about self-awareness; it’s about performance.

For individuals: It means spending more time doing what you’re naturally energised by, boosting motivation and fulfilment.
For leaders: It means building teams where every type of genius is represented, preventing blind spots and ensuring projects move smoothly from idea to execution.
For organisations: It creates higher engagement, lower burnout, and stronger collaboration across departments.

At T2, we help leaders apply this model in practice through our leadership workshops and retreats, combining behavioural insight with real-world tools that transform how teams work together.

Here’s how you can start exploring your own Working Genius:

Reflect on what energises you: Which parts of your job make you feel alive, and which leave you drained?
Start a team conversation: Share this concept with colleagues. Understanding each other’s “genius” can transform how you collaborate and delegate.
Bring it to life: Apply the Working Genius model in your next team meeting or leadership workshop to unlock new energy and clarity.

If you’re ready to take this further, you can explore how we at T2 bring behavioural insights and performance science together through our workshops and events:

Discover our Leadership Retreat

Explore our Training & Development Workshops

The Working Genius model is more than a personality tool, it’s a language for understanding what drives human energy at work.
When you know your genius, you stop working harder and start working smarter. Because real performance begins when people do the work they were built for.

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