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What if you felt good about work every day?

Leadership & Management

How many times in the last five days did you feel good about the work you've done? The last two weeks? The last month?

What if you could find a way to feel good about your work every day? If you had a leader that could show you how to feel good about your work every day?

What would that mean to you?

Because there is a way. It's called the Zone of Genius.

Gay Hendricks identified four different zones of function in his book, The Big Leap:

  1. Zone of Incompetence: In this zone, you are engaging in something you inherently do not understand or are not skilled at.

  2. Zone of Competence: In this zone, you are doing what you are efficient at, but recognize that many people are likewise efficient at it, thus not distinguishing your capabilities in any significant way.

  3. Zone of Excellence: In this zone, you are doing something you are tremendously skilled at. Often, the zone of excellence is cultivated, it's practiced and established over time.

  4. Zone of Genius: In this zone, you capitalize on your natural abilities which are innate, rather than learned. This is the state in which you get into "flow," where you find ceaseless inspiration. You seem to not only come up with work that is distinguished and unique, but also do so in a way that excels far and beyond what anyone else is doing.

Managers enforce zones of incompetence and competence. Leaders cultivate zones of excellence and genius.

What do you need to do to work in your zone of genius every day?

  • Ensure you know what your zones of excellence and genius are.
  • Ensure your leaders know what your zones of genius and excellence are.
  • Educate your managers on what the four zones are and coach upward and help them help you.

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