1,000+ Leaders Have Discovered Their Work Energy Type This Week

By Sénamé Agbossou The Data is Telling a Remarkable Story When I launched the Work Energy Types Assessment three weeks ago, I hoped it would help a few dozen leaders understand their natural work patterns better. I never expected what's happened instead. As of this morning, over 1,000 leaders from 23 countries have discovered their Work Energy Type. The data emerging from their responses is revealing patterns about modern leadership that I think every executive needs to understand. Today, I want to share what we're learning, because these insights aren't just interesting, they're actionable. The Global Energy Audit Here's what 1,000+ leaders are telling us about how they naturally work: 32% are Builders - People energized by creating systems and turning ideas into lasting reality. They're the backbone of execution in organizations worldwide. 24% are Drivers - Results-oriented leaders who thrive on momentum and achievement. They're the engines of organizational progress. 19% are Connectors - Relationship-focused leaders who bring teams together and create collaborative energy. They're the social fabric that makes everything else possible. 15% are Sensemakers - Strategic thinkers who provide clarity and long-term perspective. They're the navigation system for complex decisions. 10% are Explorers - Innovation-driven leaders who thrive on discovery and breakthrough thinking. They're the scouts for future opportunities. But here's the most striking finding: 74% report being energy misaligned in their current role. The Energy Misalignment Crisis The data reveals something profound about modern work: we're systematically placing people in roles that work against their natural energy patterns. The Builder's Dilemma Maria, a Builder from Barcelona, wrote: "I'm in an 'innovation strategy' role, but what energizes me is creating the systems that make innovation sustainable. I spend my days brainstorming when I want to be building." The Explorer's Trap David from Dublin shared: "I'm an Explorer managing a team that needs steady execution. I feel guilty for being bored by operational excellence, but the assessment helped me realize I'm not lazy, I’m just wired for discovery, not maintenance." The Driver's Bottleneck Elena from Amsterdam discovered: "I'm a Driver leading a team that needs more collaborative decision-making. I was frustrated that they couldn't match my pace, but I learned they weren't slow; they just needed different energy to do their best work." The Ubuntu Revelation What's most exciting isn't the individual discoveries. It’s what happens when teams take the assessment together. Alex, who leads a software team in Nairobi, had his entire department complete the assessment. Here's what they discovered: "We had three Builders, two Connectors, one Driver, and one Sensemaker. We'd been trying to work like a startup: fast, flexible, constantly pivoting. But most of our team was energized by stability and systematic progress, not rapid change." They restructured their work to play to their collective energy: longer development cycles with clear milestones, regular team connection points, and strategic review sessions where their Sensemaker could contribute perspective. The result? Their next product release was delivered two weeks early with 40% fewer bugs than their previous launch.…

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The Responses to the Work Energy Quiz Have Been Incredible

What 500+ Leaders Are Teaching Us About Energy Alignment Three weeks ago, I launched the Work Energy Types Assessment, and the response has been beyond anything I expected. Over 500 leaders from across Europe and beyond have discovered their Work Energy Type, and the insights emerging from their results are reshaping how I think about leadership development and team effectiveness. Today, I want to share what we're learning, and why these discoveries matter for every leader navigating today's complex work environment. The Surprising Patterns Discovery #1: Most Leaders Are Energy Misaligned 68% of assessment takers reported that their current role requires them to operate outside their primary energy type for more than half their time. Edith, a COO from London, captured this perfectly: "I took the quiz and discovered I'm a Connector, but 80% of my role is pure execution and problem-solving. No wonder I feel drained even though I love the company." This isn't about being in the wrong job, it’s about understanding how to structure your role to maximize your natural energy while still meeting organizational needs. Discovery #2: The Ubuntu Effect is Real Teams that take the assessment together report immediate improvements in collaboration. When everyone understands not just their own energy type but their colleagues' types as well, friction decreases and productivity increases. James, who leads a product team in Berlin, shared: "We had one Explorer, two Builders, one Connector, and one Sensemaker. Before the assessment, our Explorer felt stifled and our Sensemaker felt rushed. Now we structure our sprints to include innovation time for the Explorer and strategic review time for the Sensemaker. Our output has increased 30% because everyone's contributing from their energy zone." Discovery #3: Context Changes Everything Several leaders discovered that their energy type manifests differently in different contexts. Maria, a startup founder from Brussels, explained: "I'm a Driver when it comes to business development, but I'm definitely a Sensemaker when it comes to product strategy. Understanding this helps me structure my days better." This reinforces the Ubuntu principle that our energy doesn't exist in isolation—it flows in relationship with our environment, our colleagues, and our purpose. The Most Powerful Insights "I Finally Understand Why Certain Projects Drain Me" Alex, a marketing director, discovered he was a primary Connector with Explorer tendencies. "I always thought I was bad at execution-heavy work. Turns out, I just need more collaboration and creative variety built into the execution phase." "My Team Makes So Much More Sense Now" Roxane, the Driver leader we featured in a previous post, had her entire team take the assessment. "I was trying to manage everyone like they were Drivers. Once I understood that Rebecca is a Sensemaker who needs processing time, and David is a Builder who needs clear systems, everything changed. I'm still driving results, but now I'm doing it in a way that brings out everyone's best energy." "I Stopped Trying to Fix My 'Weaknesses'" Raphael, our Sensemaker from last week's post, shared: "For years, I tried to…

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Something I’ve Created to Help You Discover Your Work Energy Type

By Sénamé Agbossou "After Hundreds of Requests for an Assessment..." The messages started coming after my third post in this series. "How do I know which Work Energy Type I am?" "Can you create a quiz to help me figure this out?" "I see myself in multiple types—how do I know my primary pattern?" After 25 years of coaching leaders, I know that self-awareness without practical application is just interesting information. You need to know not only who you are, but how to leverage that knowledge for better results and deeper satisfaction in your work. That's why I've spent the last six months developing something special. The Work Energy Types Assessment Today, I'm excited to share the Work Energy Types Assessment: a focused, research-based tool that helps you identify your primary energy pattern and understand how to align your work with your natural wiring. This isn't another lengthy personality test that gives you complex results you'll never use. It's a practical assessment designed to give you immediate insights you can apply to your current role, team dynamics, and career decisions. Why This Assessment is Different Most leadership assessments tell you what you already know about yourself or categorize you in ways that feel limiting. The Work Energy Types Assessment is built on the Ubuntu principle that your individual energy becomes most powerful when it's in service of collective success. Here's what makes it unique: 1. It's Action-Oriented Every result comes with specific strategies for optimizing your energy, improving your team relationships, and aligning your role with your natural patterns. 2. It's Relationship-Focused Your assessment results include guidance on how to work effectively with other energy types, because the Ubuntu philosophy reminds us that our individual gifts are only fully realized in relationship with others. 3. It's Immediately Practical No complex theory or academic jargon. Just clear insights about how you naturally work best and what you can do about it starting today. What You'll Discover The assessment takes just five minutes, but the insights last a career. You'll learn: Your Primary Work Energy Type - Explorer, Builder, Connector, Driver, or Sensemaker, and what this means for your daily work experience. Your Natural Strengths - The specific ways you add value that you might be taking for granted. Your Energy Sources - What types of work, environments, and challenges naturally energize you versus drain you. Your Growth Edge - The one thing that, if you focused on it, would most amplify your natural gifts. Your Team Dynamics Guide - How to work more effectively with people whose energy types complement yours. Arsène's Discovery Let me share what happened when Arsène, a marketing director at a Brussels-based startup, took the assessment. Arsène had been struggling with what he thought was burnout. Despite loving marketing strategy, he felt drained by his role and couldn't understand why. His performance was strong, his team respected him, but he felt like he was working against his natural grain. The assessment revealed that Arsène was a primary…

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The 5 Work Energy Types That Transform Teams

By Sénamé Agbossou The Missing Piece in Leadership Development After 25 years of working with executives and business owners, I've noticed something profound: the most successful leaders aren't necessarily the smartest or most skilled. They're the ones who understand their natural work energy and align their roles accordingly. This realization led me to develop what I call the Work Energy Types framework: five distinct patterns that determine how we naturally bring energy to our work. Today, I want to share this framework with you because understanding your Work Energy Type isn't just helpful; it’s transformational. Beyond Traditional Assessments Most leadership development focuses on skills, competencies, and behavioral styles. These are important, but they miss something fundamental: how you're energetically wired to work. Your Work Energy Type isn't about what you can do; it’s about what naturally energizes versus drains you while doing it. It's the difference between working hard and working in harmony with your natural design. The Ubuntu Foundation Before diving into the five types, let me share the philosophical foundation that guides this work. At Obuntuo, we operate from the Ubuntu principle: "I am because we are." This ancient African philosophy reminds us that our individual energy doesn't exist in isolation. It flows in relationship with others, creating the collective energy that drives teams and organizations forward. Your Work Energy Type isn't about putting you in a box; it's about understanding how your unique energy contributes to the whole. When each person operates from their natural energy pattern, the entire team becomes more alive, more productive, and more purposeful. The Five Work Energy Types THE EXPLORER: "I thrive on innovation and breakthrough thinking" Core Drive: Discovery and innovation Explorers thrive when venturing into uncharted territory. They bring energy through curiosity, experimentation, and pioneering new approaches. These are the people who see possibilities where others see problems, who get excited by the unknown rather than intimidated by it. Natural strengths: Breakthrough thinking, adaptability, vision, creative problem-solving Energy sources: Variety, innovation projects, brainstorming sessions, learning opportunities Watch out for: Starting too many projects without finishing, getting bored with maintenance tasks Explorer Insight: Explorers often feel guilty about getting bored with successful projects. But boredom isn't a character flaw; it’s your energy calling you toward innovation. THE BUILDER: "I create lasting systems and turn visions into reality" Core Drive: Creation and construction Builders find their energy in turning ideas into tangible reality. They love creating systems, establishing processes, and building something that lasts. When others are spinning with possibilities, Builders are asking, "How do we actually make this work?" Natural strengths: Systematic execution, reliability, focus, long-term thinking Energy sources: Project completion, creating lasting systems, seeing plans become reality Watch out for: Perfectionism paralysis, resistance to necessary changes Builder Insight: Builders often feel pressure to be more "visionary" or "innovative." But their superpower is taking brilliant ideas and making them actually work in the real world. THE CONNECTOR: "I bring people together for collaborative success" Core Drive: Relationships and collaboration Connectors are…

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