Today, we conclude our What’s My Genius? series by exploring the final pairing in The Working Genius Framework. I hope you have enjoyed this series and found it helpful in your schoolwork, work, family, and ministry.
In the first week, I started the series with an overview of the Working Genius framework and how it can integrate with our faith.
During the second week, we looked at the first two geniuses – wonder and invention.
Last week, we explored discernment and galvanizing.
This week, we look at the final pairing in the Working Genius framework – Enablement and Tenacity.
If you are joining us for the first time on this podcast and are wondering about the Working Genius Framework, I encourage you to pause this podcast and start at episode 129 – What’s My Genius? and then catch up through episodes 130 & 131.
As a quick reminder, Patrick Lencioni wrote a new book titled The Six Types of Working Genius.
The 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 enablement and tenacity.
The Geniuses of Enablement and Tenacity
Enablement
Enablement is a responsive genius, meaning someone with this genius reacts to the world and environments around them.
The genius of enablement is one of my geniuses. As you recall, it is paired with wonder. When this genius is used with wonder, I can bounce ideas off people while supporting collaboration and encouraging them to pursue or refine ideas.
You may also notice that some of my discernment competency enters here.
The genius of enablement is tough because you have to be strong enough to encourage people or colleagues but not be a doormat. Enablement is also closely aligned with the spiritual gift of encouragement, which you might have guessed that I have.
The genius of enablement is not an enabling genius. The person who possesses this genius does not enable someone in the traditional sense that we think of this word.
Some people might think that you are enabling bad relationships or addictions, but that is not what this word or genius is doing. Rather it is supporting someone to help them achieve their goals or removing roadblocks to get their work done.
In scripture, several people might have embodied the genius of enablement:
- Paul trained Timothy, mentored him to send him out into the world, and modeled a similar structure for us today in our spiritual development.
- Eli mentoring Samuel – although it did not end well for Eli or his sons, the prophet Samuel was mentored by Eli in the ways of the Lord.
- Joshua succeeded Moses & Elisha succeeded Elijah – both of these pairings were prepared by their mentors and encouraged to do things and take on roles as God led.
The spiritual gift of encouragement challenges us to come alongside our brother or sister in Christ and help them through a challenge or situation. I will say that having both the genius of enablement and the spiritual gift of encouragement can be difficult at times.
Over my years as a lay leader in ministry, tough conversations ended in heartache, disappointment, failed expectations, and lost friendships.
Those of us with the spiritual gift of encouragement tend to wear our hearts on our sleeves and internalize many words and actions – the dark side of this spiritual gift.
It’s also the dark side of the genius of enablement from my perspective. You can only encourage and guide someone as far as they want to go; when they don’t want to grow anymore, their lid is shut.1
The upside of the gift of encouragement or genius of enablement is seeing someone you mentored succeed beyond your imagination. When building into someone and you see they want to grow and are taking ideas and transforming them to their own and executing on them…well, that is the best reward a mentor can experience.
Do you have the genius of enablement?
Tenacity
Tenacity is a disruptive genius, meaning someone with this genius drives change in the world, people, or an organization.
Our final genius is the genius of tenacity sits squarely in my frustration zone. Unfortunately, I always have to use this genius, and at times way more than I want to.
The reason… that genius is all about getting things done. That’s right! This genius is for those who love checking off the boxes on the do list.
If you saw my to-do list, you might be scared. I have them spread out over three or four apps, post-it notes, papers, notebooks, and so on. This year, I am focusing on better organization.2
Project managers are probably the best examples of people who may have the genius of tenacity. I say, may, because some project managers may be able to get their work done because they have learned how to manage well, but it may not be one of their geniuses.
In the Bible, we looked at Noah last week, who needed to galvanize the family to build the ark while the nay-sayers surrounded them.
This week, I want to revisit Noah’s example because he also had to finish the work. The flood was coming that would destroy the earth, and if Noah did not complete the ark…well, there would be no place for the animals or his family.3
Whether God gave Noah a supernatural dose of “get it done” or he naturally had this ability, I think if we were to look at his working genius profile, I think tenacity would be right at the top of his genius profile.
Do you have the genius of tenacity?
Encouragement & Challenge
As we conclude this series, if you don’t know your working geniuses or stumbled upon this podcast series, head on over 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 enablement or tenacity, how are you utilizing these geniuses in your workplace, faith community, and family?
Are you enabling someone instead of supporting them through constructive feedback (I struggle with this one, so don’t worry if you don’t get it right often). Or are you too focused on checking the boxes to see how much you can get done in a day?
Rest and reflect on these questions to help you be a better leader, friend, spouse, sibling, co-worker, or minister.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for your blessings and the geniuses of enablement and tenacity. Please give us wisdom as we explore more about ourselves, and help us not to beat ourselves up over missed opportunities or perceived failures. Please give us the strength to grow and learn more about you and ourselves. Amen!
Spread the Word
We release a new podcast episode each Monday morning. If you love the podcast content, I would love for you to share it with family, friends, colleagues, or others who cross your path.
Please take a second to rate or review this podcast on your favorite podcast platform to help bring more visibility to this content. Thank you for being part of the Rocking Chair Devotions community.
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
- Referring to the Law of the Lid from John Maxwell’s book – The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership ↩︎
- The Power to Change by Craig Groeschel is inspiring this singular focus. ↩︎
- Genesis 6:9-7:24 ↩︎
Say Thanks
Listen On…
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links contained on this website are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
