Patrick Lencioni is has working on a book “The Six Types of Working Genius”. (link here) While I don’t like it when people throw around the word genius, because the reality is that most of us really aren’t and never will be, but marketing, etc etc. I really like the main idea of this book.
The main idea of this book (it hasn’t come out yet to due to logistical issues) is that all people have work aptitudes that they do naturally and if you play within your strengths, you will look like a work genius.
His six categories are:
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Wonder (Vision)
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Invention (Problem Solving / Solution Finding)
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Discernment (Understanding / Decisiveness)
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Galvanizing (Leadership / Selling)
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Enablement (Supporting / Strengthening Others)
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Tenacity (Finishing Things)
The most helpful point he makes from this list is that while all these skills are important, most people only possess two of the six attributes.
That means that there are four core skills that you don’t have. There are four skills that your partner doesn’t have. Four skills that your co-worker doesn’t have, and four that that your boss doesn’t have.
So you can be annoyed that others don’t have four of skills and aptitudes, or you can be thankful that they have two. My observation is that the more gifted a person is in their two aptitudes, the more likely they are to be clueless in the other four. My hope with a team is to create a group of people where the strengths of individuals are able to shine, but the weaknesses are mitigated by the other members of the team (wisdom courtesy of Peter Drucker).
So maybe you need to cut some other people some slack, help them to see and celebrate the two attributes they have, and learn to appreciate what everyone brings to the table. Or maybe you need to move people into the roles that will leverage their strengths. Being aware of your own strengths and weaknesses here will help you gain in your appreciation of those around you.
This also means you shouldn’t try to do everything yourself. You can be annoyed by that fact, or you can relax into it. Its freeing to realize that you don’t have to be great at everything, just excel in what you excel in, and ask for help in the other things. If you find the right person with the right aptitude, the thing that is so hard for you is no big deal for them. Or better yet, if you see someone having a rough time, pay it forward and help them without expectation of repayment in an area of your strength.