Bonnie Johnson
April 24, 2025
Media ArticleWe all have a bit of genius inside. We are competent. But we also often have lurking frustrations.
Do you ever wonder why certain tasks drain your energy while others energize you? Why do some coworkers, or you, excel at coming up with ideas but are not actually good at making them happen? Why are particular people always questioning the feasibility of a new product while others wonder what’s next?
The Working Genius assessment, developed by Patrick Lencioni, is a simple way to discover natural gifts to thrive at work while building a cohesive and effective work team. You may be curious how this differs from all the other assessment tools out there. Working Genius is a personality assessment aimed at unleashing productivity.
Traci Via, VP of Development and Alumni, Agriculture Future of America (AFA), is also a Certified Facilitator for The 6 Types of Working Genius. Traci energized us with her presentation of the "Working Genius: Discovering Gifts and Transforming Teams" breakout session at the AgCareers Agriculture & Food Roundtable in Minneapolis on July 25th. Traci's passion was evident in helping others recognize who they are on the inside, their strengths, why they behave in specific ways, and why they thrive in certain areas but struggle in others. She believes that self-awareness is one of a person's most essential attributes and strives to help others increase their self-awareness.
What tasks do you crave? These are your working geniuses or inherent, natural strengths. What tasks drain you? These are your working frustrations that overwhelm you. Anything in between those two ends of the spectrum are your working competencies.
Some people shy away from assessments, thinking that they will only focus on what’s wrong. However, self-awareness is not just a buzzword; it's a critical employability soft skill. Discovering your working frustrations allows you to better understand yourself and your teammates. As Traci shared, "It's not an excuse, it's an explanation." This understanding can empower you to make positive changes and improve your work environment.
Understanding your genius and strengths, along with those of your colleagues and employees, can be a game-changer for team dynamics. By leveraging each other's strengths, you can build a more effective team, which is crucial for recruitment and retention. If you spend the majority of your work time on your geniuses, you will feel fulfilled, contributing, and happy in your role. On the other hand, if you are spending too much time in your working frustrations, you are likely to be unproductive, displeased, and even looking elsewhere for alternative employment. However, a good balance of employees possessing a variety of geniuses enhances productivity and organizational success.
AgCareers.com is proud to bring together industry and education annually for the Roundtable, a unique conference exploring talent development, acquisition, management, and retention in the agricultural and food industries. For two immersive days, participants learned from industry and knowledge leaders and customized their learning experience by selecting breakout sessions daily. The Working Genius was one of these breakout sessions, allowing participants to develop professionally and personally while taking away key insights to better their work team.
Join us next year at the 23rd Annual event on August 5-7, 2025, in St. Louis! Keep up to date here: https://www.agcareers.com/hr-round-table.cfm
For inquiring minds, My Working Genius DT initials behind my name in the byline represent Discernment & Tenacity. You can learn more about the six types of working geniuses: Wonder, Invention, Discernment, Galvanizing, Enablement and Tenacity at https://www.workinggenius.com/
What are YOUR geniuses?
