- Date published
Figure out the keys to your team's greatest productivity.
If you’ve spent any time around efactory or the Missouri SBDC at MSU, you know we love tools that help teams work smarter, communicate better, and get things done with less friction.
That’s why we’re excited to share that Dr. Lance Coffman and Dr. Mel Steele are now Certified Facilitators in the 6 Types of Working Genius, a program from Patrick Lencioni and The Table Group. These are the same folks behind The Five Dysfunctions of a Team and other leadership staples.
As Lance explains, it may feel quick and simple, but it’s incredibly practical for how teams actually work. The assessment takes just 5–10 minutes and focuses on how you prefer to work — the things that give you energy and the things that drain it.
“The way that we talk about it is 20% personality and 80% productivity,” Lance said.
So, What is It?
Working Genius is a quick assessment that identifies:
- The types of work that give you energy (your Geniuses)
- The areas you’re capable of but neutral toward (your Competencies)
- The kinds of tasks that drain your energy (your Frustrations)
Every job requires all six types, and every person has all six. However, we each naturally excel in two. Understanding this helps teams assign work more intentionally, reduce burnout, and collaborate with much more clarity.
“The whole team is happier and more productive when people get to spend more time in the parts of work that give them energy,” Lance added.
The six types follow the natural flow of any project:
Ideation
- Wonder: Asks big questions and explores possibility
- Invention: Creates new ideas and solutions
Activation
- Discernment: Evaluates ideas and senses what will work
- Galvanizing: Rallies people and builds momentum
Implementation
- Enablement: Supports and assists where needed
- Tenacity: Drives tasks across the finish line
Mel Steele
Lance Coffman
“If meetings jump from big-picture ideas to the details and back again, you get turbulence,” Lance explained. “Working Genius gives teams shared language to avoid that.”
Using Working Genius with Clients
Working Genius engagements will be customizable based on a company’s goals, but a typical process includes:
- Initial conversation with the leader or owner to understand what they want to improve. Maybe the idea is to improve team communication, hiring clarity, leadership alignment, etc.
- Individual assessments for team members.
- A team map to visualize everyone’s Geniuses, Competencies, and Frustrations.
- A facilitated session to discuss what this means for your team.
- Optional one-on-one discussions with leaders.
- For longer engagements, meeting structure planning using Table Group’s recommended frameworks to keep teams communicating at the right altitude at the right time.
It’s simple, but powerful. More satisfaction. Better alignment. Sounds perfect.
What’s Next?
Lance and Mel are working on:
- Rolling out materials and resources
- Practicing internally
- Talking with companies already interested
- Learning best practices from those who’ve already implemented this service
Reach out to our team to learn more about scheduling a Working Genius engagement. We’d love to help your team work in ways that feel lighter, clearer, and just plain smarter.
And don’t forget: The first public training with Working Genius is scheduled for May 7. It’s a perfect time to set your team on the right track.