Red Deer Public Schools staff learn about new leadership model

During February's Aspiring Leaders session, Red Deer Public Schools staff learned about the leadership tool, working genius. 

On Feb. 8, approximately 60 staff from all employee groups joined Corrine Thorsteinson, Certified Facilitator and Associate Superintendent of People Services as she presented the material based on “The Six Types of Working Genius Model” by Patrick Lencioni.  

The model identifies six types of work that people can be naturally drawn to, including the geniuses of wonder, invention, discernment, galvanizing, enabling, and tenacity.  

“As employees and leaders, we can all learn to be proficient in these areas, but we all have natural dispositions to get more joy and energy from two of the geniuses,” Thorsteinson said. “On the flip side, we also have natural frustration areas, two of the geniuses, where, if we do sustained work in these areas, we may become drained or burned out.”  

During the session, participants did self and group reflection on which of the geniuses they most identify with, and considered how the geniuses could be applied as stages from coming up with a new idea, to completing a task.  

"The Working Genius Model is a simple model but comes with multiple layers that help leaders unpack how they like to work and how they lead," Thorsteinson said. "Understanding these areas and the interplay between them when we are working in or leading a team can go a long way to increased efficiency and productivity as well as staying out of judgment and conflict on a team."  

More Aspiring Leaders sessions are set to take place throughout the rest of the school year.  

“These sessions are a perfect opportunity for any Red Deer Public Schools employee who wants to explore whether a formal leadership position is right for them, wants to build or enhance their leadership toolkit, wants to lead where they are at, or wants an opportunity to learn from and engage with other colleagues interested in leadership,” Thorsteinson said.