123. The Subtleties of Activation

Could you be judging someone’s Working Genius based on the wrong expectations?

In episode 123 of the Working Genius Podcast, Pat Lencioni and Cody Thompson explore whether someone can truly be bad at an area of Working Genius and why a genuine genius can sometimes appear ineffective to others. They unpack the influence of genius pairings, assessment bias, timing, context, environment, and the specific problem someone is trying to solve. The conversation also reveals the surprising danger of becoming exceptionally good at work that drains you, especially when that competence causes others to keep asking you to do more of it.

Topics explored in this episode:

(00:00) Can You Actually Be Bad at Your Genius?

Pat introduces the question of whether someone can genuinely have a Working Genius while appearing to be ineffective in that area.Pat and Cody consider inaccurate assessment results, lack of practice, and the distinction between natural genius and learned capability.

(04:26) Your Pairing Changes Everything

Cody explains how a person’s second genius can dramatically change what the first genius looks like in practice.Pat and Cody contrast different forms of Invention and explain why comparing someone to a narrow definition of a genius can lead to false conclusions.

(08:28) The Danger of Mastering Your Frustrations

Pat and Cody discuss why becoming highly skilled at work that drains you can create a trap where others continually expect that work from you.Pat describes how years of succeeding through his Working Frustrations ultimately contributed to a strong aversion to finishing and execution-oriented tasks.

(12:00) Right Genius, Wrong Time

Cody explains how a genius used out of sequence or directed toward the wrong problem can appear destructive, annoying, or ineffective.Pat and Cody explore how timing, restraint, context, and the quality of the underlying opportunity all influence whether a genius produces a useful result.

(16:09) How Environment Shapes Your Genius