85. Don’t Fake It Till You Make It: Why Honesty Beats Pretending

Why is it dangerous to "fake it till you make it" when it comes to your Working Genius?

In episode 85 of the Working Genius Podcast, Pat and Cody explore the pitfalls of "faking it till you make it," particularly in the context of the six Working Geniuses. They discuss how pretending to possess certain geniuses—especially Galvanizing, Enabling, and Tenacity—can lead to burnout and dissatisfaction, even if it seems successful in the short term. They also emphasize the importance of aligning work with your natural geniuses for long-term fulfillment and success.

Topics explored in this episode:

(00:51) Faking It Undermines Team Trust

* Faking a role outside your genius may temporarily fool others but drains energy and joy.

(3:48) When Observation Misleads

* People often mistake visible productivity for true capability and fulfillment.

* Internal processes like Discerning or Inventing can't be copied just by watching someone do the work.

(7:36) Success in the Wrong Game

* Achieving mastery in an area outside your genius often leads to burnout, not true fulfillment.

* Mimicking Tenacity or Enablement might bring professional praise but leaves people feeling empty.

(11:24) Misalignment at Work

* Many early career roles overvalue G.E.T. work, unintentionally alienating people with W.I.D. geniuses.

* Discovering the Working Genius framework helps reframe these challenges as fixable, not personal flaws.

(15:12) The Cost of Faking It

* People often carry unnecessary guilt when they struggle in roles that don't match their genius.

* Leaders can free people from burnout by helping them realign with their natural gifts.

A note for new listeners/viewers: In this episode, Pat and Cody dive deep into the Six Types of Working Genius, a model that helps you discover your natural gifts and thrive in your work and life. If you’re new to our framework, perhaps consider checking out some earlier episodes of The Working Genius Podcast. Or, if you’re interested, you can take The Six Types of Working Genius assessment, which is the fastest and simplest way to discover your natural gifts and thrive at work: https://www.workinggenius.com/about/assessment

Refresher: The initials discussed in this episode refer to:

W = Wonder.

I = Invention.

D = Discernment.

G = Galvanizing.

E = Enablement.

T = Tenacity.

This episode of The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni is brought to you by The Table Group: https://www.tablegroup.com. We teach leaders how to make work more effective and less dysfunctional. We also help their employees be more fulfilled and less miserable.

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This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.