Welcome to our third week in our What’s My Genius? series as we explore The Working Genius Framework through the lens of our faith.
In the first week, I started the series with an overview of the Working Genius framework and how it can integrate with our faith.
Last week, we looked at the first two geniuses – wonder and invention.
As a quick recap, Patrick Lencioni wrote a new book titled The Six Types of Working Genius.
There are six types of working genius,
- Wonder
- Invention
- Discernment
- Galvanizing
- Enablement
- Tenacity
We all have two geniuses, two frustrations, and two competencies. I shared that my geniuses were wonder and enablement.
My frustrations were galvanizing, and tenacity and my competencies were invention and discernment.
Let’s dive into two more geniuses today – the geniuses of discernment and galvanizing.
The Geniuses of Discernment and Galvanizing
Discernment
Discernment is a responsive genius, meaning someone with this genius reacts to the world and environments around them.
The genius of discernment is one of my competencies which means that I can leverage this genius, but if I spend too much time in this genius, I could burn out.
Decision fatigue can be one negative aspect of the genius of discernment. This genius is also a spiritual gift.
People with the genius of discernment have natural intuition. They can discern ideas quickly and deduce whether an idea is a good one or a bad one or what needs to be worked on.
When utilizing this genius as my competency, I can look at a plan and know what may or may not work or needs to be changed. As long as I use it sparingly (and in the right contexts), it works as it should.
I often have to spend too much time in this genius competency, and I risk burning out or experiencing the negative aspect of decision fatigue.
In the Bible, King Solomon is known as the wisest man ever to walk the earth short of Jesus Christ himself.
King Solomon was young when he assumed the throne after his father, David, died. The Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
““Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”1
Solomon answered the Lord, saying,
“You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”2
And the Lord granted him wisdom and discernment and gave him all the things he did not ask for, including wealth and honor.3
Discernment is not only a genius but a spiritual gift. People with the spiritual gift of discernment can often recognize things about people they don’t see in themselves and understand when something is wrong.
Oftentimes, people with the gift or genius of discernment make good mentors because they can help see and correct blind spots in others.
Do you have the genius or gift of discernment?
Galvanizing
Galvanizing is a disruptive genius, meaning someone with this genius drives change in the world, people, or an organization.
The genius of galvanizing sits squarely in my frustration zone. It is not that I cannot use this genius; I don’t want to use it all the time.
While coaching cross country, I had to galvanize or inspire my athletes to perform their best. I had to remind them of their and the team's goals and be their greatest advocate and cheerleader.
I loved those moments, but I used them sparingly because I got to leverage my genius in designing workouts and helping them see the bigger picture.
Cody Thompson is the Chief Operating Officer at The Table Group and, informally, the Chief Galvanizing Officer. He is an advocate and evangelist for the Working Genius framework. He works side-by-side with the creators of this tool each day.
Someone with the genius of galvanizing loves to inspire people all day long. They can be change management professionals, communication strategists, and brand evangelists.
In our faith communities, these folks can be associate pastors who love to relate to people. They can be missions pastors or adult ministries, and they can live behind the scenes as well to help inspire the team.
Noah might have had the gift of galvanizing as God directed him to build the ark to save his family from destruction. It took him about 75 years to build the ark.4
Over those 75 years, he certainly would have to keep railing his family to keep building – not every day was good, and I think they might have lost focus for a minute or two.
Do you have the genius of galvanizing?
Encouragement & Challenge
This week, be curious and see what your working geniuses are (if you haven’t already). Head to workinggenius.com to take to the assessment and learn more about yourself.
Take a few minutes to ponder your working genius results. If you have the genius of discernment or galvanizing, how are you utilizing these geniuses in your workplace, faith community, and family?
Are you making too many decisions too late in the day? If so, move your decision-making to the morning when you are sharper.
Are you inspiring your team or tearing them to pieces? Rest and reflect on these questions to be a better leader, friend, spouse, sibling, co-worker, or minister.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for your blessings and the geniuses of discernment and galvanizing. Give us wisdom as we dive into our geniuses and look for ways to use them as You intended us. Thank you for your grace and your goodness. Amen!
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Resources
- The Six Types of Working Genius – Patrick Lencioni (book)
- Working Genius
- Working Genius Assessment
- The Working Genius Podcast
- Patrick Lencioni Returns: Leveraging Your Working Genius
Footnotes
- 1 Kings 3:5b ↩︎
- 1 Kings 3:6-9 ↩︎
- 1 Kings 3:13 ↩︎
- https://www.bible.ca/ark/noahs-ark-dimensions-size-120-years-time-to-build-75-years.htm#:~:text=An%20educated%20guess%20as%20to%20the%20actual%20time%20it%20took%20to%20build%20the%20ark%20would%20be%20somewhere%20between%2040%20-%2070%20years. ↩︎
Say Thanks
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