The Not So Breakfast Show
Listen, laugh and learn as we share our latest thoughts about staying relevant, contemporary leadership and doing life right. Ish Cheyne is the Head of Fitness in New Zealand for global fitness juggernaut Les Mills. Sacha Coburn is the COO of Coffee Culture, a leading group of boutique coffee shops, and the co-founder of The Company You Keep.co.nz.
The Not So Breakfast Show
Episode 241: Are You Calling Me a Quitter?! Understanding Working Genius
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The Working Genius Model
Episode Overview
Ish has just been certified in the Working Genius model and is excited to share this powerful framework for understanding team dynamics, project workflows, and personal energy. In this episode, he unpacks the model live with Sacha, who's just received her results and is wrestling with what it means to not be naturally gifted at something. Spoiler: it's not about skill, it's about what gives you energy and joy.
Key Topics Discussed
Understanding Working Genius
- It's a ranking, not a rating - everyone is a "six-letter person"
- The model identifies what brings you joy and energy, not just what you're skilled at
- Three categories: Genius (naturally gifted, energising), Competency (capable but neutral), Frustration (draining, even if you're good at it)
- Every job is also a "six-letter job"
Wonder (W): Pondering the possibility, asking the right questions
- "What opportunities exist here?"
- "What questions should we be solving?"
Invention (I): Creating original ideas and solutions
- Coming up with new approaches
- Not innovation (that's all six working together), just inventing
Discernment (D): Evaluating ideas and providing insight
- Natural instinct for what will work
- Assessing viability and process
Galvanising (G): Rallying people to action
- Getting buy-in and momentum
- Creating enthusiasm for the project
Enablement (E): Providing support and assistance
- Helping others complete their work
- Supporting the team's needs
Tenacity (T): Ensuring completion and follow-through
- Doing the work
- Pushing through to finish
BOOK ISH NOW
If you would like to have Ish do the Working Genius module and assessment with your team, email him at ish@ishcheyne.com
If you haven’t come across it yet, Working Genius is one of the simplest, most practical models I’ve seen for helping teams understand how they actually get work done. Not personality. Not fluff. Just clarity on where people thrive — and where they get frustrated.
If you’re planning your next team day, offsite, or work event, I’d love to bring this to your crew.
Find out more at IshCheyne.com