Enjoy your work, and work well with others

How do we work well with one another and in teams? How do we appreciate others (and our own!) giftings and uniqueness?

These are some of the questions that lead Rev. Paul McIntosh, Priest in charge at Northland Wilton Parish, to a tool called ‘The 6 Types of Working Genius’, by Patrick Lencioni.

One of the unique things about this tool, is that it deals with the broad category of work, tasks, and getting things done. So, it relates to all of life, not simply church ministry.

Paul says the Working Genius tool is super simple, and quickly grasped and put into action.

“It helps us identify what type of work we enjoy, what we’re naturally good at, and gives us life. It also helps us identify other types of work that frustrates us and depletes us,” he says.  

But the model is more about working with others. It reveals that no one person is gifted in all areas, and that we need others. It gives language to help us understand how to work together and see how each person can contribute to a team or task that needs to be done.

Paul says the tool has been beneficial for his parish role.

“It has helped me articulate what I’m good at, and the areas where I need support. It has been humbling, realising I’m not good at everything, and that I need to work with, and include, others more.

We’ve used it in our vestry where it has helped us see and value what each member brings to the team.

Recently, when looking for people to fill ministry roles, it’s given us a framework to discern if the person will be a good fit and if they’d flourish in the role. 

Check out the website https://www.workinggenius.com/. There’s free info, plus the book and the assessment.

Paul will be run a workshop on this tool at the Tawa Training Day on Saturday.