There’s something powerful that happens in the middle of a Working Genius session. It’s that moment when someone looks up, wide-eyed, and says:
“I never realized that was how I came across.”
“I finally know how to work with you.”
“Immediately put into words what I had spent years learning about myself.”
It’s the turning point when a team stops guessing and starts understanding how to work better together.
Not Just Another Personality Test
I once led a session for a group of executives, one of whom told me upfront, "I normally don’t like personality assessments." To her, most feel interesting but not immediately useful.
But by the end of the session, she leaned in and said, "This is different. This isn't just about understanding one another—it’s about actually getting work done better and faster. We’re not just learning about ourselves; we’re learning how to work with one another in a way that eliminates frustration."
That’s exactly what Working Genius does.
Where Frustration Turns Into Clarity
In every organization, there is work that energizes people and work that drains them. The problem is that most teams don’t know why they experience so much friction in their day-to-day work.
They assume:
Someone is too slow or too scattered.
There’s a lack of motivation.
They just don’t work well together.
But in reality, many teams are asking people to thrive in work that isn’t their Genius.
During one session, I overheard two colleagues—who had worked together for years—finally put words to a long-standing challenge.
Their Working Genius profiles were complete opposites, which often led to frustration. But after seeing their results, one turned to the other and said, “I finally know how to work with you.”
That single moment shifted their entire dynamic. Instead of working against one another, they could now work with one another—leveraging each other’s strengths instead of feeling frustrated by their differences.
When people recognize where they naturally excel—and where they struggle—it changes how they approach teamwork. Instead of misalignment and friction, there’s clarity and collaboration.
The Power of a Shared Language
One of the most valuable aspects of Working Genius is that it gives teams a shared language that sticks.
After a session with a newly merged global team, a leader shared this takeaway - "Everyone walked away with a better understanding of their work approach and how that impacts others."
This isn’t about labeling people—it’s about creating clarity around who thrives in which areas of work and why each stage of work is critical and must not be skipped.
When teams understand this, they stop spinning their wheels and start working in their flow.
Why It Matters
When people understand where they thrive—and where their teammates thrive—collaboration stops being a struggle and starts becoming natural.
Leaders make better decisions about who does what.
Teams waste less time on miscommunication and frustration.
People work in their strengths, making work feel easier and more productive.
Where Working Genius Has the Biggest Impact
Organizations bring Working Genius into key moments that define how well a team will work together, such as:
Team offsites and leadership retreats – to reset and work more efficiently.
Newly merged teams – to build trust and collaboration faster.
Women’s leadership groups – to help leaders step into their strengths.
Executive teams – to align senior leaders on how to work together.
Because when teams see how they actually work together, everything changes.
Want to Experience It for Yourself?
I love giving away free Working Genius assessments. If your interest has been piqued and want to try it for yourself, send me a note and I will send you an assessment AND debrief your results with you for free.
Let’s turn on the lightbulbs.
Written by Heather Italiano, Leadership Consultant and Founder of People Warriors
