Which Genius is most suited to Senior Leadership? Pt 1
Spoiler alert! I believe all the Geniuses are incredibly important. And the best genius for a Senior Leader are your own! When we learn to lead from who we are, when we value our own geniuses and champion the geniuses of others around us without trying to compete, we begin our journey to being the best leader we can be. #LeadershipDevelopment #Coaching #Training #WorkingGenius
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In last week's podcast, I emphasised the importance of leading from your geniuses. If you haven't already, I recommend checking it out before diving into this episode. Today, I'll continue exploring the question of which genius is most suited to senior leadership, drawing from Patrick Lencioni's Working Genius philosophy. My view is that no single genius is inherently more suitable for senior leadership than others. What truly matters is leading from your unique design. So, let's delve into three of the geniuses—Wonder, Invention, and Discernment—and how they apply to leadership. We'll cover the remaining geniuses next week. If you haven't taken your Working Genius Assessment yet, please reach out; I’d love to assist.
For those operating from the genius of Wonder, your ability to ask profound questions is invaluable. Your knack for seeing things differently makes individuals feel deeply valued and understood. Harness this genius to inspire your team, encouraging them to explore new perspectives and stay adaptable in a dynamic environment. However, be mindful of balancing curiosity with focus on tasks at hand.
The Genius of Invention embodies innovation. If this is your genius, you're constantly generating ideas. While not every idea may be feasible, think of pioneers like Thomas Edison whose relentless pursuit of invention transformed our world. Your role is to keep ideating, especially when facing uncertainties, to keep your team's innovative spirit alive and problem-solving capabilities sharp. Be aware that not every one of your ideas is going to be a winner. If your team is healthy then you should be receiving some knock back to some of your ideas.
Discernment, on the other hand, filters and refines ideas from Inventors. Your gut instinct helps discard impractical concepts and polish viable ones. Collaborating effectively with Inventors ensures the best ideas surface, guiding your company toward focused growth. As a leader, ensure your discernment doesn't come across as dismissive; instead, use it to steer your team in the right direction while valuing diverse perspectives.
My takeaway for you this week is simple yet crucial: Embrace and cultivate your Working Genius. Whether it's a core strength or an area of growth, leverage the geniuses within your team to drive collective success. Tune in next week as we explore the remaining three geniuses and their impact on leadership dynamics.