Sometimes we all feel like we’re not living up to our full potential.
Sure, you get up and do what needs doing.
But it’s easy to have those nagging thoughts of, “I could do so much more with my life.”
If this sounds familiar, then one framework that might help is to discover your Zone of Genius.
By tapping into your natural talents and passions, and using them to find fulfillment, you can move toward living your best life.
In today’s featured article, I’ll explore this framework and provide a 7-step process for implementing it in your life.
Background of The Zone of Genius
The term, Zone of Genius, first came to light in Gay Hendricks' The Big Leap book, in 2009. In it, Hendricks outlines the need to reflect on our lives, be it at work or home, and pinpoint the areas in which we truly excel.
Hendricks suggests we categorize the different aspects of our lives into:
- The Zone of Incompetence – the tasks we’re neither good at nor enjoy
- The Zone of Competence – the things we do to a satisfactory level but no more
- The Zone of Excellence – the activities we do to an outstanding level due to developing the necessary skills
- The Zone of Genius – the all-time-high, where passion meets talent and creates a seemingly effortless execution
By doing this, we’re able to gain a better understanding of our strengths and weaknesses. And in turn, see where we can offer the most value with our Zone of Genius.
Hendricks stated (in an interview with Forbes), that most successful people will only work to the point of excellence. That’s often enough for them to be recognized for their effort or ability. And any need to feel satisfied is swept under the carpet.
But what if you want more than that?
By discovering your Zone of Genius, you can find genuine fulfillment in what you do. You can reach our highest potential. Your tallest mountain.
And a greater happiness than you thought possible.
Now, let’s talk about how to apply this technique to your life.
7 Steps to Finding Your Zone of Genius
Finding your Zone of Genius might feel like an overwhelming task. Even the word genius might seem a bit extreme, as very few people brand themselves as exceptional in any way.
But having the confidence to say “I’m really good at this” is important. It’s how you stand out in life; how you make your mark on the world.
And using these 7 steps to find your Zone of Genius will help you to do that.
1. List Your Skills
The first step is to make a comprehensive list of all the skills you possess.
This could be technical or non-technical, instinctive or learned.
This exercise will encourage you to look deeply at your strengths and capabilities.
Some examples of potential skills are:
- Energetic
- Friendly/empathetic
- Good planner/organizer
- Good attention to detail
- A flare for graphic design
- Confident decision-maker
- Fluent in multiple languages
From your list (which will likely look very different), you can pinpoint which skills bring you happiness and fulfillment.
For example, you might love making on-the-spot decisions but begrudge designing pretty flowcharts.
2. Identify Your Passions
As we’ve already established, it's not enough to just be good or even excellent at something when searching for your Zone of Genius.
You also need to figure out what topics or activities you feel passionate about. By finding your zing, your reason to jump out of bed, and integrating it into your daily life, you’ll find a new level of happiness.
You may feel passionate about:
- Photography
- Staying active
- Doing charity fun runs
- Reading self-help books
- Planting your own crops
- Passing on your know-how
3. Look at Past Successes
We all like to reminisce about the good times. And, this can be a helpful thought process when searching for your Zone of Genius.
By reliving past projects and experiences where you felt a deep sense of satisfaction or accomplishment, it’s easy to highlight the common traits or strengths used.
You may note that you consistently:
- Felt positive
- Remained calm
- Went above and beyond
- Thought outside the box to solve problems
4. Ask for Feedback
It can be difficult to assess your own life and situations. You might not necessarily see the great qualities you bring to the table. Or you may feel awkward about bigging yourself up.
Asking others for feedback is a great solution to these problems. Choose individuals who you know will look at situations objectively. And speak to multiple people to get a better overall response.
They could include:
- Co-workers – particularly great for work-related feedback
- Friends and family – a good choice for personal input
5. Use Personality or Strength Quizzes
Personality or strength quizzes can offer some interesting insights into what makes you tick. And the good news is, they’re easily accessible with a quick web search.
However, it’s important to recognize that while these quizzes can help you identify particular strengths and talents, they shouldn’t be solely relied upon. Instead, consider them as just one piece of the puzzle.
To get started, you could use Truity’s Typefinder Personality Test.
6. Map Out Your Skills
After collecting information from the multiple sources mentioned, it’s time to map out your skills. And using a Zone of Genius chart will help you to do that.
Every skill or ability you possess will fit into one of these categories:
- The Zone of Incompetence
- The Zone of Competence
- The Zone of Excellence
- The Zone of Genius
It’s important to be honest with yourself when working to identify your Zone of Genius, which, as you can see from the chart, is a harmonious balance of your time and talent.
7. Nurture Your Zone of Genius
Now that you understand your Zone of Genius, it’s time to nurture those all-important qualities.
You could try:
- Setting goals – look for new projects that align with your skills, or try allocating some time to study
- Looking for new opportunities – you may need to step outside of your comfort zone for this one but rest assured, you do have the skills needed to chase new opportunities
- Work with others – people who share your passion can help you to develop your Zone of Genius
- Embrace failure – you won’t get it right every time, but you can learn from every lesson
- Focus on self-care – you can only work at your best when feeling rested, so be sure to block out your calendar for some ‘You’ time
Final Thoughts on Your Zone of Genius
If life is feeling a bit stagnant right now, finding your Zone of Genius may help to get things flowing again.
By working through your skills and pinpointing which ones bring you happiness, fulfillment is entirely possible,
So, take a step back and reflect on what truly brings you joy.
Is it writing?
Painting?
Helping others?
Building a business?
Whatever it may be, embrace it.
And allow yourself to learn more about yourself through the Zone of Genius framework.
And if you want more resources about your zone of genius, be sure to check out these blog posts:
- 7 Steps for Overcoming Obstacles in Life and Your Goals
- How to Overcome Your Fear of Success: 7 Steps
- 7 Simple Steps to Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
Finally, if you want to level up your productivity and time management skills, then watch this free video about the 9 productivity habits you can build at work.
