By Michelle Cramer, CFRE, President & CEO, Cramer & Associates
It was February 23, 2021, and I was doing one of my favorite things, listening to a podcast while getting ready for the day. The episode was from At the Table with Patrick Lencioni, one of my favorite authors and the brilliant mind behind The Five Dysfunctions of a Team and several other bestsellers. On this particular day, Patrick and two members of his team were talking about something new they’d been developing, a model and assessment they called The 6 Types of Working Genius®.
From the moment they started describing it, I was hooked. Patrick explained that this wasn’t a personality test like Myers-Briggs. It wasn’t about who you are; it was about how you work. The idea was simple but powerful: when people operate in their areas of “working genius,” they feel more fulfilled, more energized, and more productive. When you do work that brings you joy and energy, you thrive. When you’re stuck doing work that drains you, you struggle.
My Discovery Moment
The podcast ended, and I immediately jumped on my computer. Within minutes, I was on The Working Genius® website taking the assessment myself.
Less than half an hour later, my results came in — and wow, was I shocked! It nailed me. My top two geniuses, the areas of work that bring me the most joy and energy, were exactly what I expected: Invention and Galvanizing.
I’ve always loved creating new ideas and inspiring people to act, and here it was, in black and white. The assessment also showed my two competencies, things I can do, but I don’t necessarily love, and my two frustrations, the types of work that completely drain my energy. It was spot on!
I immediately had my entire team take the assessment, and guess what? Every single one of their results fit them perfectly. Suddenly, it was like we were all seeing each other more clearly. We understood why certain tasks lit some people up and exhausted others. We saw how our geniuses complemented one another, and where we needed to adjust. The clarity was game-changing.
Becoming Certified (and Hooked!)
Just a few months later, Patrick announced that he would be offering certification training for The Working Genius model. I didn’t even hesitate. I signed up immediately, and by June 2021, just four months after hearing that podcast, I was sitting in a virtual classroom with Patrick himself, and a member of the very first group ever to be certified. I remember feeling so proud and excited, knowing this was something truly special. And I was right.
Since then, my team and I have introduced The Working Genius to nonprofit organizations, leadership teams, and boards across the country. And I can honestly say it’s one of the most powerful tools we’ve ever used. We’ve seen boards become more engaged, staff teams more aligned, and relationships between the two grow stronger than ever before. Board members finally understand where they add the most value, and staff know how to invite them into the work in ways that fit their natural gifts. When people work in their geniuses and avoid their frustrations, transformation happens.
The 6 Types of Working Genius
The Working Genius Assessment™ identifies six fundamental ways people naturally contribute to work and every successful project or initiative needs all six in order to succeed. Each of us has two “Working Geniuses,” the areas where we thrive and feel energized; two “Working Competencies,” the things we can do but don’t love; and two “Working Frustrations,” those tasks that drain us.
When teams understand each member’s geniuses, competencies, and frustrations, everything starts to click. Work moves forward more smoothly, and people operate with greater understanding and respect for one another.
Here are The Six Types of Working Genius, along with a quick description of each:
- Wonder – People with Wonder as a genius like to ponder and ask, “what if?” questions. They’re great at identifying opportunities for improvement or innovation.
- Invention – People with Invention as a genius (and yes, I am proudly one of them!) love to come up with new ideas and creative solutions.
- Discernment – Those with Discernment use their intuition and good judgment to evaluate ideas and make wise decisions.
- Galvanizing – People with Galvanizing (my second genius, no surprise to anyone who knows me!) love to rally and inspire others to act.
- Enablement – People with Enablement as a genius love to help and support others, providing the encouragement needed to move projects forward.
- Tenacity – Those with Tenacity are the finishers. They love getting things across the finish line, checking off boxes, and driving results.
When I share this with nonprofit teams and boards, I often see immediate lightbulb moments. People realize why they’ve been frustrated, or why certain things come so easily. And they start to see how others’ strengths fill in the gaps.
Why Nonprofits Need It
In the nonprofit world, this understanding is a game-changer. So many people wear too many hats. You’ve probably seen it . . . the visionary executive director buried in spreadsheets, or the operations manager asked to come up with creative program ideas. That’s a recipe for burnout!
The Working Genius helps leaders match people with the kind of work that energizes them rather than drains them. When you do that, morale improves, productivity increases, and people actually start to enjoy their work again.
It also gives teams a shared language. Instead of saying, “She’s not a team player,” you can say, “She’s an Invention/Discernment type and she just needs time to process before jumping in.”
Or instead of wondering why someone never finishes things, you’ll understand that they may be a Wonder and Galvanizing type and just need a Tenacity partner to close the loop. It creates empathy, grace, and understanding and that’s where real teamwork starts.
The Magic on Boards and in Campaigns
When board members discover their geniuses, they come alive!
Those with Wonder and Invention thrive during strategy and vision discussions.
Discernment and Galvanizing types shine in fundraising and advocacy.
Enablement and Tenacity types love getting things done and ensuring results.
Instead of forcing square pegs into round holes, you allow people to contribute where they naturally excel, and the difference is remarkable.
The Working Genius even strengthens strategic planning and campaigns. Every successful effort needs all six geniuses:
- Visionaries (Wonder/Invention) set the direction.
- Evaluators and Motivators (Discernment/Galvanizing) bring clarity and momentum.
- Implementers (Enablement/Tenacity) get things across the finish line.
When a team and board have this balance, everything moves faster and smoother. Communication improves, execution sharpens, and results speak for themselves.
The Transformation in Action
After introducing The Working Genius to countless nonprofit teams and boards, I’ve seen the same outcomes again and again:
- Meetings get shorter and more productive.
- Misunderstandings turn into empathy.
- Leaders delegate with greater confidence and clarity.
- Staff and boards become more energized, more aligned, and more effective.
At its heart, The Working Genius isn’t just about productivity, it’s about fulfillment.
It helps people rediscover joy and purpose in what they do every day. When we operate in our genius, work stops feeling like a grind and starts feeling like our calling again.
Bring the Working Genius to Your Organization
After more than three decades of working with nonprofit leaders, teams, and boards, I can honestly say I’ve never seen a tool as impactful as The 6 Types of Working Genius. It’s practical. It’s simple. And it transforms how organizations function from the inside out.
If you are a nonprofit leader and you want your staff and board to be more aligned, engaged, and effective, this is where you should start and start now. Just be warned: once you see the results, you might become a Working Genius evangelist like me!
If you’re ready to experience it for yourself, have your leadership team and board take The Working Genius Assessment™ at www.workinggenius.com.
There is a $25 fee for each assessment but trust me, it’s worth every penny. Then, map out your team’s and board’s geniuses and see what patterns emerge. I guarantee it will be eye-opening.
And if you’d like some help along the way, my team and I would love to partner with you. We specialize in facilitating The Working Genius trainings and retreats for nonprofit teams and boards, helping interpret results and align teams for greater success. You can reach me at [email protected].
The Working Genius has truly changed the way I lead, the way my team collaborates, and the way our clients achieve their goals. It brings joy back to the work and reminds us all that when we lead with our gifts, amazing things happen!
Michelle Cramer, CFRE, is the President & CEO of Cramer & Associates and a nationally recognized fundraising consultant with more than 30 years of experience. She has led hundreds of successful campaigns, guided boards and teams to greater alignment, and is known for her strategic and innovative approaches to nonprofit success.
The Working Genius® and The Working Genius Assessment™ are trademarks of The Table Group, Inc.
