The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni

Episode 81: What's Your Third?
Date: August 21, 2024
Host: Patrick Lencioni
Guests: Cody, Beau, Tracy, Karen, Matt

Episode Overview

In this episode, Pat Lencioni and his team delve into a nuanced discussion about the "third letter" in the Working Genius profile—the competency that sits just outside your two "genius" gifts. The conversation centers on how this third area of competency influences the way our main geniuses manifest and interact with others, why it's often misunderstood, the risks of overusing it, and how teams can leverage this knowledge for better teamwork, hiring, and personal well-being.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

What is the "Third" Letter? (00:27)

• The third letter in your Working Genius profile represents your primary competency. It's a skill area you perform well and can rely on, but it doesn’t give you energy and fulfillment like your true geniuses do.
• Understanding this third competency is critical because it “colors” and influences how your true geniuses show up, both for yourself and in the eyes of others.
• Pat Lencioni:
  “That third letter can be so important because it really colors how the first two letters show up, and yet it’s not one of your geniuses... knowing that third letter in someone really helps you to interpret how those first two letters, their genius pairing, is going to show up." (00:27)

The Coffee Cup Metaphor for Genius, Competency, and Frustration (01:10)

• Pat Lencioni:
  • Your genius = "A Yeti mug: pour hot coffee, screw the lid on—stays hot all day. Lots of energy.”
  • Your frustration = "A coffee cup with a hole—energy leaks out instantly.”
  • Your competency = "A paper coffee cup: stays warm for a while, usable, but not like a genius. You don’t get sustained energy."
• Cody:
  “We are most likely to accidentally overuse the first competency that somebody else has because it can stay hot for a while.” (01:57)

How the Third Letter “Colors” Your Genius (02:27 – 05:06)

• The competency isn’t your main gift, but it’s easy to slip into, sometimes leading others (and yourself) to misinterpret your actual strengths.

• Example: Tracy’s tenacity as a competency “influences my discernment and enablement,” making them look a little different from someone whose third is invention or wonder.

• Pat:
  "When I invent and discern things, I often look like I'm actually galvanizing people… I have to tell people all the time, 'Hey, I'm I-D here, I promise I'm not G.'” (02:44)

• Situational examples:

  • Cody: Sometimes looks like an “inventor” because invention is his third, but it’s more “micro-innovation” alongside his main genius (discernment/galvanizing). (03:53)
  • The third letter can cause two people with the same top two geniuses to behave quite differently.

Impact on Team Dynamics and Hiring Decisions (07:17 – 08:29)

• In hiring, understanding the third letter is valuable for assessing versatility and flexibility in potential candidates—especially when comparing people with similar genius profiles.
• Pat:
  “So often I’m like, well, maybe they’re not perfect, but if they have it as a third, we know they’re going to be able to understand what we need, and they’re going to be able to translate and… work on a team and understand people like that.” (07:17)

Burnout from Overusing Your Third

• There’s a common trap of overusing your competency zone because you or others think you're “good at it”—but doing so leads to burnout.
• Pat:
  “Don't ever mistake a person's third or your own for your genius, because that is the recipe for burnout. Tracy and I both got burned out … other people saw our third, and so they put us to work in our third all the time, and it led to burnout.” (07:56)

Responsive vs. Disruptive Dynamics & Nuanced Personality Differences (05:48 – 09:36)

• The order and nature of your third letter can influence whether you show up as more “responsive” (e.g., enablement, tenacity, wonder) or “disruptive” (e.g., invention, galvanizing, discernment).
• This influences not only your work style but also how others perceive your contributions.
• Pat:
  “Matt is a WD and his third is E, so he's a triple responsive. Whereas I realize … I'm definitely more of a disruptive person than responsive.” (05:48)

The Value of Conversation About Your Third (10:13 – 10:38)

• Asking teammates “What’s your third?” can be valuable—promotes self-awareness, helps avoid mistakes in role placement, and deepens team understanding.
• Pat:
  “Go talk to people about this and say, how does your third influence you and show up and how tempted are you to slide it into your... Or do you over-index on it? … Having a conversation like, what's your third? And how does it impact you? … Not that we're going to make them do it all the time, but the last thing you want to do is put a person in a role where they're going to have to go to their third a lot, and it's the wrong one.” (10:13)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Pat Lencioni:
  “When I am invent and discern things, I often look like I’m actually galvanizing people to take action because it leaks in there pretty easily...” (02:44)
• Cody:
  “We are most likely to accidentally overuse the first competency that somebody else has because it can stay hot for a while.” (01:57)
• Pat Lencioni:
  “Don't ever mistake a person's third or your own for your genius, because that is the recipe for burnout.” (07:56)
• Pat Lencioni:
  “Go talk to people about this and say, how does your third influence you and show up and how tempted are you to slide it into your... Or do you over-index on it?” (10:13)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:27 – Introduction to the “third” letter/competency concept
• 01:10 – Coffee cup metaphor for genius, competency, and frustration
• 02:27 – How third letter influences or “colors” your genius
• 03:53 – Example: Invention as a third and its impact
• 05:06 – Real-world examples (team members’ profiles and practical implementation)
• 05:48 – “Responsive vs. disruptive” genius types and how the third can tip the balance
• 07:17 – Practical implications in hiring and team placement
• 07:56 – The burnout risk from mistaking your competency for your genius
• 10:13 – The importance of conversation and self-awareness in teams about the third letter

Practical Takeaways

• Be aware of your own and others’ third (competency) area—don’t let it masquerade as a genius or be overused.
• Use knowledge of the third competency for better hiring, team assignments, and avoiding burnout.
• Foster open conversation among team members about how their third shapes their work and demeanor.

Tone & Style

Conversational, practical, insightful, and sprinkled with humor and real-life anecdotes. Pat shares relatable stories about personal burnout, while the team bounces ideas, examples, and a bit of playful ribbing around the table.

Bottom Line

Your “third” letter—your main competency—is critical for understanding how your gifts show up in the world, but don’t confuse it for your genius. Use it wisely for personal and team success, but beware of burnout from living in your competency zone too long. Start the conversation with your team: “What’s your third?”