Jared Pilon
As a business owner, you may find that team structure is one of the most persistent sources of inefficiency in your organization. Even when you hire capable individuals, you may encounter recurring challenges, such as overlapping responsibilities, disengaged employees, or projects that stall before completion. These problems are rarely due to a lack of effort. More often, they result from a mismatch between an employee’s assigned duties and the kind of work they are naturally built to do.
We were recently introduced to the Working Genius model by Garth Epp, an expert on business coaching. This framework, developed by Patrick Lencioni, offers a practical approach to understanding how individuals contribute to progress. It categorizes six types of “genius” that are in the lifecycle of nearly any project or initiative.
By identifying which types are most dominant in each team member, employers can align roles with strengths and improve both output and workplace satisfaction. With employees placed where they shine, your business stands the best chance of maximizing its growth and revenue.
Understanding the Six Types of Working Genius
The Working Genius model outlines six key contributions:
Wonder – Raises thoughtful questions and considers future possibilities
Invention – Creates original ideas and proposes potential solutions
Discernment – Applies intuition and judgment to assess ideas and timing
Galvanizing – Motivates others and organizes action around concepts
Enablement – Offers practical support to help others implement plans
Tenacity – Persists until work is completed and results are achieved
Each individual typically demonstrates two natural strengths, two competencies, and two frustrations. When employees are routinely placed in areas of frustration, productivity declines and engagement wanes. But when you allow them to work in their strengths, they become more engaged and consistently deliver better results.
Why This Matters for Your Business
Most small businesses structure their teams around task-based roles. While this approach may meet your short-term needs, it can lead to long-term inefficiency if roles do not align with your people. For example, someone with strengths in Wonder and Invention may struggle with repetitive tasks, while someone high in Tenacity may find satisfaction in work that others find tedious.
By learning how each team member naturally contributes, you can begin to reassign responsibilities in a more strategic way. This enables you to reduce bottlenecks, avoid overreliance on specific individuals, and improve overall team performance, often without the need to increase your headcount.
Advantages of Aligning Strengths with Roles
When you apply the Working Genius model in your business, you will likely notice improvements in several areas:
Employee Retention
Staff are more likely to remain when their roles align with their strengths.
Productivity
Projects progress more smoothly when tasks are assigned according to natural inclinations.
Collaboration
Team dynamics improve as individuals begin to understand and respect each other’s strengths.
Hiring Decisions
Recruitment becomes more precise when roles are defined by contribution types rather than vague expectations.
The model also helps you identify blind spots within your team. A group full of Inventors and Galvanizers may generate many ideas, but without someone strong in Tenacity, projects may never get across the finish line. Likewise, without someone with strength in Wonder, your team may miss opportunities to ask the right questions or revisit outdated processes.
Beyond Job Descriptions: Recognizing Hidden Talent
One of the most valuable aspects of the Working Genius model is its ability to help you identify untapped strengths within your existing team, particularly in junior roles. You may have team members with strong Discernment or Wonder who are not currently in positions where those skills are put to use. Without a structure to uncover and leverage these contributions, you risk missing opportunities for greater engagement and stronger performance.
You can address this by having conversations about what energizes or frustrates your team members. Ask them where they feel most effective. Encourage them to contribute ideas or feedback, even if it falls outside their defined job description. When you start using the Working Genius framework as a common language, your team becomes more agile, more accountable, and more aligned.
This approach also prepares your business to respond more effectively to change. As priorities shift, you can reassign tasks based not on titles, but on how individuals naturally contribute to shared goals.
Implementing the Model in Practice
The Working Genius assessment is simple. It takes approximately ten minutes and is cost-effective for businesses of any size. Once completed, you receive a clear picture of how each person in your organization is wired to contribute. From there, you can map team strengths, reassign responsibilities, improve delegation, and make more informed hiring decisions.
You do not need to overhaul your organizational structure to see results. You can start small, perhaps by asking someone with strong discernment to review a proposal, or involving a Galvanizer in launching a new internal process. Even modest adjustments can lead to more balanced workloads and a more energized team.
Relieve Pressure on Your Business
In business, you are constantly under pressure to do more with the resources at your disposal. Improving team performance does not always require more effort or new hires. Sometimes, it requires a better understanding of the people already on your team.
The Working Genius model provides a practical and accessible framework for making smarter, more strategic decisions about how work gets done. By aligning people with their natural strengths, you improve execution, strengthen morale, and build a healthier foundation for growth.
Legacy Accounting LLP is here to provide financial and company structuring expertise tailored to your business journey at every stage, whether you're managing a small team or overseeing hundreds of employees. Regardless of the scope of your operations, personnel management and financial management are closely intertwined. Our team is ready to help align your financial health with the rest of your organization. Reach out today to find out how we can get your business’s finances up to the genius level.
Additionally, if you believe you could benefit from a new organizational system to maximize your employees' potential, explore Garth Epp’s mindset coaching services at GarthEpp.com.
Want to hear more about this topic? Check out the Tax Talk Podcast
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Posted: 7/8/25
