Introduction: From Assessment to Action

Look, I'll be honest with you: I've seen a lot of workplace assessments come and go. Most of them? They're either so complicated you need a PhD to understand them, or they're so vague they're basically useless.

But the Working Genius model created by Pat Lencioni and the Table Group team? That's different.

This practical framework is refreshingly simple. You can learn it fast, and here's the kicker, you can actually use it right away. It helps you figure out your natural gift, what drains your soul, and what lights you up at work. And honestly, isn't that what we're all trying to figure out?

Maybe you've already taken the Working Genius assessment or thumbed through the latest book, The 6 Types of Working Genius. Great! You've got your personal report sitting there, telling you about your gifts, working competencies, and frustrations. But here's the thing, knowing is only half the battle. What matters now is doing something with that behavioural insight.

That's exactly what this guide is for. I'm going to share 21 practical, real-world tips to help you take this Working Genius framework from theory to transformation. Whether you're a team leader, a business leader running an organization, or just trying to find a better chance of fulfillment in your daily work, these strategies will help you get there.

Section 1: Working Genius 101

The Six Types Overview

Let me break this down for you. The model divides work into six distinct working geniuses: Wonder, Invention, Discernment, Galvanizing, Enablement, and Tenacity. Each one plays a crucial role in how new ideas are born, tested, rallied around, and brought across the finish line.

Here's what's brilliant about it: when you understand your two primary geniuses, your true genius zones, and just as importantly, where your frustration lies, you can start building balanced teams. No more burnout from doing different types of work that drain you. No more wondering why certain tasks feel like pulling teeth.

Your First Three Moves After the Assessment

Okay, you've got your results. Now what?

First, really dig into your report. I mean really look at it. Highlight your natural strengths, those zones where work feels effortless and energizing. Understanding your innate talents is the first step toward operating at your full potential.

Second, create a team map. Get everyone's genius areas laid out visually so you can see the whole picture. Where are the gaps? Where do you have overlap? This gives you incredible insight into your team dynamics.

Third, and this is crucial, schedule a quick reflection meeting. Nothing fancy. Just get everyone together to talk about what gives them joy and energy versus what frustrates them. You'd be amazed at how powerful this simple conversation can be. It builds collective self-awareness, and that's where the magic starts.

Section 2: 21 Top Tips to Leverage the Six Types of Working Genius

1. Unlock Wonder to Surface Possibility

The Genius of Wonder is that gift of spotting potential that nobody else sees. It asks the big questions and challenges the status quo. It's where all innovation starts, honestly.

Here's what I want you to do: In your next Monday morning meeting minute or strategic review, ask "What's missing?" Just that simple question. Give people permission to wonder out loud without immediately jumping to solutions.

When you invite Wonder into your work, something shifts. Your team rediscovers creativity and that sense of discovery that probably got buried under deadlines and your endless to-do list. I've seen it spark complete transformations in business direction, especially when business leaders actually listen to what emerges.

2. Channel Invention into Testable Ideas

If Wonder asks the questions, the Genius of Invention creates the answers. People with this natural ability live for designing creative solutions where none exist. They excel at idea generation and coming up with original ideas.

Try this: Give your inventors 30-minute sprints in brainstorming sessions. Let them prototype, sketch out frameworks, or pitch wild ideas. Keep it simple and practical. This type of work thrives on structure that supports creativity.

What I love about this approach is how it maintains energy. Inventors don't need months to feel fulfilled, they need the joy of creating. Give them that space, and watch how structure actually fuels their innovation instead of stifling it. This is a better way to harness their talents than just throwing them into long, unfocused meetings.

3. Use Discernment to Stress-Test Solutions

The Genius of Discernment is honestly underrated. It's that instinctive natural ability to judge ideas quickly and accurately in any given situation. People with this gift can smell a bad idea from a mile away, and they can spot the gold in a pile of mediocre proposals.

Here's my advice: Before you move forward with any major decision, run it by your team members who are strong in Discernment. Ask them what feels off or what needs tweaking. Their unique genius lies in evaluating whether something will actually work.

This saves you so much time and frustration. Instead of investing months in a misaligned project, you course-correct early. Your success rate goes up, morale improves, and productivity actually means something. It's one of the best ways to avoid costly mistakes.

4. Turn Galvanizing into Clear Momentum

Galvanizing is pure momentum. It takes a plan sitting on paper and turns it into movement at exactly the right times. These folks rally people around a shared goal like nobody's business, which is critical for team effectiveness.

Put your Galvanizers in charge of communicating the "why" behind projects. Let them lead kick-off meetings. Let them fire people up. As a team leader, you need to recognize this gift and deploy it strategically.

I can't stress this enough, when everyone feels aligned and energized around what you're doing, everything else gets easier. The whole organization moves together instead of in fragmented directions. This immediate impact on team energy is measurable.

5. Aim Enablement at Unblocking People

The Genius of Enablement is the gift of providing exactly the right support at exactly the right moment. These people are deeply attuned to the needs of others. They're your emotional engines, the people who make everyone else feel capable.

Assign enablers to mentor other staff members, create helpful templates using genius tools, or facilitate workshops. They're not just supporting the work; they're supporting the people doing the work.

This is huge for leadership development and professional development. When people feel genuinely supported in their current role, turnover drops and job satisfaction soars. You create a team environment of joy and fulfillment that's honestly rare in most workplaces.

6. Apply Tenacity to Close the Loop

Look, ideas are great. But you know what's better? Finished ideas.

That's the Genius of Tenacity. People with this gift love crossing the finish line. They're energized by seeing measurable outcomes and checking things off, which is a completely different stage of work than ideation.

Encourage your tenacious team members to define what "done" actually looks like. Let them set milestones and report completions. Celebrate when things are actually finished, not just 80% there.

This strengthens accountability across the board. It's the finishing power every team desperately needs but doesn't always know how to harness. And if you've read Pat Lencioni's other work on dysfunctions of a team, you know how critical accountability is.

7. Use a Team Map to Balance Work

This one's a game-changer: Create a visual map of everyone's genius areas, competencies, and frustrations.

Pull out your assessment reports and lay them all out. Where are the gaps? Do you have three Inventors but no one with Tenacity? Are you heavy on Wonder but lacking Discernment?

This simple visual tool, one of the most practical genius tools available, transforms how you approach hiring, staffing, and even running meetings. You start ensuring every project has representation from all six types. The result? Maximized energy and way better outcomes across different types of work.

8. Design Meetings by Genius

Here's something I wish more business leaders understood: Every effective meeting needs all six geniuses involved at the right times.

Structure it like this: Open with Wonder and Invention to explore possibilities and generate novel ideas. Move to Discernment and Galvanizing for evaluation and decision-making.

Close with Enablement and Tenacity for actual implementation planning.

This isn't just some nice theory, it actually works. Meetings become clearer, more productive, and way less frustrating. No more wandering discussions that go nowhere.

Quick note: You might need to actively invite quieter working geniuses to contribute during their phase.

9. Write Roles with Genius in Mind

When you're crafting job descriptions, think about the natural talents that role actually needs.

A creative strategist? That person should probably have strong Wonder and Invention, their natural gift for novel approaches and new ideas is essential. A project manager? You want Tenacity and Enablement there to support others and drive completion.

Aligning roles to natural gifts from the hiring stage means people experience more joy and fulfillment from day one. They're not constantly swimming upstream against their own nature, which dramatically improves job satisfaction and reduces that frustrating lack of creativity that comes from being in the wrong role.

10. Sequence Projects by Phase

Every project naturally flows through three stages of work:

• Ideation (Wonder + Invention) for generating new ideas and novel ideas

• Activation (Discernment + Galvanizing) for evaluation and momentum

• Implementation (Enablement + Tenacity) for support and completion

When you recognize which stage of work you're in, you can invite the right gifts to the table. Don't ask your Tenacity people to brainstorm blue-sky ideas, that's torture for them. Don't expect your Wonder people to love tracking spreadsheets.

This framework cuts down on so much misalignment and frustration. Work actually flows instead of constantly getting stuck. It's simply a better way to approach project management.

11. Measure Energy, Not Just Output

Here's something we don't talk about enough: You can hit all your targets and still be miserable.

Start tracking joy and energy levels alongside your regular performance metrics. Have people reflect weekly on how much time they spent in their genius zones versus their frustration zones, understanding their true genius versus where they're just competent.

High energy equals high productivity and low burnout. It's not one or other. This simple reflection habit builds self-awareness and keeps morale steady instead of tanking over time. As best-selling author Pat Lencioni points out in his work, engagement is everything.

12. Run a Weekly Application Ritual

Set aside just 15 minutes each week for a Working Genius check-in, maybe even as part of your Monday morning meeting minute. It doesn't have to be fancy.

Talk about where each person used their gifts, where they hit frustration, or where they needed support. Celebrate the wins, share what you learned. This creates immediate impact on how people feel about their work.

This keeps everyone connected to the framework. It's not some one-and-done assessment you take and forget about. It becomes part of how you operate, and that consistency creates real transformation in team dynamics.

13. Create a Shared Language Glossary

Not everyone immediately gets what Enablement means, or how Discernment is different from just being critical.

Create a one-page guide, one of those essential genius tools, that summarizes each genius. Post it where people actually see it: in your Slack, on the wall, in your project management tool. You might even reference content from Greg's weekly newsletter or the Working Genius podcast for examples.

This simple tool boosts clarity across the board. When everyone's speaking the same language about different types of work, communication gets so much smoother and team effectiveness increases naturally.

14. Plan Offsites That Map to Geniuses

If you're planning a team offsite or retreat, structure it around the six types, this is where working with a certified Working Genius facilitator can be incredibly helpful, though you can absolutely do it yourself.

Maybe day one focuses on Wonder and Invention, exploring what's possible and generating new ideas. Day two shifts to Galvanizing and Tenacity, deciding what you're actually going to do and how you'll finish it.

This workshop-style approach is inclusive by design. Everyone gets their moment to shine instead of the extroverts dominating while others check out. It's engaging, it's fun, and people leave energized instead of exhausted. The genius benefit of this structure is that it honors all natural strengths.

15. Use Certification-Grade Practices Without the Price Tag

Here's the truth: You don't need to become a certified Working Genius facilitator to apply the Working Genius model like a pro.

Borrow practices from certification guides, things like debriefing team maps or running structured application exercises. There's so much value in just implementing thoughtful reflection processes that help people understand their working competencies better.

You'll improve your leadership development, boost team effectiveness, and build sustainable productivity without spending thousands on formal training. Though I'll say, if you're at a higher education institution or leading multiple teams, the investment might be worth it.

16. Build a Lightweight Application Guide for Your Team

Create a simple, one-page guide showing how to apply each genius in daily work, think of it as your own customized genius tools reference.

Include practical tips like "when to call on Wonder" (when you're stuck or feeling like something's off and you need to challenge the status quo), "how to engage Enablement" (when someone's struggling or needs encouragement), and "how to confirm Tenacity" (when you need to define done and get to the finish line).

This makes the framework practical instead of theoretical. People can reference it when they're actually in the middle of work, not just during training sessions. It shows them a new way to approach challenges in their current role.

17. Install Morale Checks by Phase

Introduce a quarterly morale survey focused on project phases and stages of work. Ask: "Which part of our work feels most draining? Which part lights you up? Where do you feel like you're operating outside your natural gift?"

This helps you rebalance teams based on their actual gifts and frustrations instead of just guessing or hoping things work out. As a team leader, this behavioural insight is invaluable.

The outcome? Better energy, reduced burnout, and higher fulfillment. It's preventive maintenance for your team's wellbeing and gives you a better chance of fulfillment for every staff member.

18. Align Projects with Natural Gifts

This seems obvious, but it's amazing how often we don't do it: Assign work based on people's natural talents and innate talents.

Let inventors design and develop creative solutions. Let discerners evaluate in any given situation. Let tenacious people deliver and cross finish lines. Match the type of work to the person's unique genius.

When people operate in their genius zone, they experience genuine joy and growth. Your organization benefits from smoother collaboration and consistent productivity gains. Everybody wins. This approach is one of the best ways to unlock people's full potential.

19. Use Podcasts and Books to Reinforce Learning

Don't let the framework fade after the initial excitement. Keep it alive through ongoing learning.

Revisit the Working Genius podcast with your team, Pat Lencioni and the Table Group create incredibly practical content. Assign short episodes or book chapters from his latest book for discussion over coffee or lunch. You might even subscribe to Greg's weekly newsletter for regular tips.

This builds deeper self-awareness over time and keeps the energy high. It's like watering a plant, consistent attention makes it grow strong instead of wilting. Plus, it reinforces the practical framework with real-world examples.

20. Support Students and Early-Career Talent

Introduce the Working Genius assessment in schools, universities, or during onboarding for new hires at your organization.

Helping younger people discover their natural gift early is huge. It builds self-awareness and confidence at a stage when most people are just floundering, trying to figure out what they're supposed to do with their lives. This is especially valuable at a higher education institution preparing students for their careers.

This early exposure creates more engaged future leaders who know themselves and can advocate for work that actually suits them. They start their careers with a better chance of fulfillment instead of stumbling through years of mismatched roles.

21. Create a Success Wall

Celebrate the wins where Working Genius framework alignment actually drove results. Maybe a project finished faster, morale shot up, hiring improved using genius areas as criteria, or team energy rebounded.

Post these wins on a physical or digital "Success Wall." Share the stories of how understanding team dynamics led to breakthrough moments and immediate impact.

Recognition keeps the joy alive and reinforces why you're doing this in the first place. It shows everyone that this isn't just corporate jargon, it actually works. Each story demonstrates innovative ways the framework can be applied.

Section 3: Tools That Make It Stick

Your Working Genius Toolkit

Your toolkit should include your Working Genius assessment results, team map, application guide, and meeting templates, essentially all your genius tools in one place.

These aren't complicated. They're simple, practical resources that bring clarity and help people operate within their natural strengths. They help you understand how different types of work require different gifts.

Revisit them monthly, not as homework, but as a way to track success and maintain self-awareness. Keep them living documents instead of things that gather digital dust. This ongoing engagement with the Working Genius model is what creates lasting change.

Hiring and Staffing with Confidence

Use Working Genius assessment data when you're making hiring and staffing decisions, this is where the behavioural insight really pays off.

Map which gifts are missing on your team and hire accordingly. Need someone to finish projects? Look for Tenacity. Need fresh thinking and original ideas? Find Wonder and Invention. Struggling with a lack of creativity? You probably need more Invention.

This ensures you're balancing ideation, activation, and implementation instead of accidentally hiring five inventors who all hate execution. The result: lower frustration, higher morale, and faster productivity across every team. It's one of the best ways to build a truly effective team.

Section 4: Leadership Playbook

Lead with Clarity

Great leadership means modeling the Working Genius framework language yourself, this is true leadership development in action.

Reference it in feedback conversations and meetings. Reward behaviors that align with people's genius areas. Coach through frustrations with empathy and understanding, helping people find a better way to approach tasks that fall outside their gifts.

Leaders who do this create psychologically safe team environments where people grow in self-awareness and fulfillment. And when people feel safe and understood? That's when organizations truly thrive. This addresses many of the dysfunctions of a team that Pat Lencioni has written about throughout his career.

Morale and Momentum

Build momentum by celebrating progress by genius type, recognize the specific contributions each type of work brings.

Recognize the Enablement that kept morale high during a tough month. Call out the Tenacity that got a seemingly impossible project across the finish line. Acknowledge the Wonder that asked the big questions that changed everything and challenged the status quo.

Highlighting each gift fosters gratitude and lasting success. It unites your organization around shared values instead of just shared deadlines. As a team leader, this is how you create immediate impact on culture.

Section 5: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Working Genius a Personality Tool or a Productivity Tool?

Honestly? It's both, but it's different from a typical personality test.

Unlike most assessments that tell you about yourself and then leave you hanging, the Working Genius model reveals self-awareness and shows you exactly how to apply it to work. It gives you behavioural insight that's immediately actionable.

It links insights directly to outcomes. It helps teams achieve measurable success while reducing frustration. It helps you understand how to deploy your natural ability in the right times and situations. That's what makes it such a practical framework.

How Often Should I Revisit My Report?

I'd say quarterly, make it part of your regular rhythm.

Check in on how much time you've spent in your genius areas versus your competency zones. Are you living in frustration more than you should be? Are you operating at your full potential or just getting by?

Tracking this ensures sustained energy and helps you avoid burnout. It's not a one-time thing, it's ongoing self-awareness that keeps you and your organization consistently thriving. Understanding your true genius is a journey, not a destination.

When Should I Consider Certification or Workshops?

If you're leading multiple teams or facilitating big cross-departmental projects, working with a certified Working Genius facilitator or investing in certification yourself is worth considering.

These deeper dives strengthen your leadership development, broaden self-awareness across the organization, and accelerate your ability to transform work sustainably. The Table Group team offers excellent training that goes beyond what you'll get from just reading the book.

But don't feel like you have to do it. You can get tremendous value just from applying the basics consistently. The Working Genius model is designed to be accessible, that's part of its genius. Quick note: Even without certification, you can achieve significant team effectiveness improvements.

Conclusion: Make Genius Your Shared Language

Look, the Working Genius framework isn't just another assessment you take and forget about.

It's a practical framework for building teams, organizations, and cultures that genuinely thrive. By applying these 21 tips, you'll raise productivity, fulfillment, and success across every level of your business. You'll discover innovative ways to approach old problems and a new way to think about team dynamics.

Here's what I've learned from Pat Lencioni's work and the Table Group team: When every person works in their natural gift, something beautiful happens. Frustration drops. Energy rises. Leadership becomes easier instead of exhausting. People finally operate at their full potential.

That's the real power of understanding your working geniuses, it's simple, it's practical, and it's fast. It transforms how we think, collaborate, and create meaningful work together. It addresses the needs of others while honoring individual innate talents. It's one of the best ways to improve both job satisfaction and results.

So take these tips. Try them out in your current role or with your team. See what works. Adjust as you go. Experiment with novel approaches. And watch what happens when people finally get to do work that actually fits who they are.

Trust me, it's worth it. You'll discover a better chance of fulfillment for everyone involved and unlock creative solutions you never knew were possible. That's not just good for business, it's good for people. And isn't that the whole point?