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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The Explorer Trapped in a Builder’s Prison (And How She Broke Free)

By Sénamé Agbossou "I should be grateful. My agency is successful, my clients are happy, my team is growing. So why do I dread Monday mornings?" That's how Rebecca introduced herself during our first coaching session three years ago. On paper, she had everything a business owner could want. In reality, she felt like she was running someone else's company. The Success That Wasn't Sustainable Rebecca had built her marketing agency from nothing. Starting as a solo freelancer eight years earlier, she'd grown it to 25 employees and consistent seven-figure revenue. Industry awards lined her office walls. Client testimonials praised her "innovative approach" and "breakthrough strategies." But Rebecca was burning out. "I feel like I'm managing the business instead of leading it," she told me. "Every day is the same: client check-ins, project reviews, operational meetings, budget discussions. I'm good at it, but it's killing something inside me." This is what I call the "Golden Handcuffs Syndrome": your success becomes the very thing that traps you. The Energy Misalignment Crisis During our work together, Rebecca took the Work Energy Type Assessment I'd developed. Her results were immediately revealing: she was a pure Explorer energy type. Explorers are naturally energized by: Innovation and breakthrough thinking Variety and new challenges Creating something that's never been done before Working on cutting-edge projects Experimenting with fresh approaches But Rebecca's role had evolved into: Managing established client relationships Overseeing repetitive campaign execution Running routine operational meetings Following proven processes and workflows Maintaining systems rather than creating them She was spending 80% of her time in Builder-type work: systematic execution, process management, and maintenance activities. For an Explorer, this is energetic poison. The Ubuntu Moment The breakthrough came when Rebecca realized something profound: "I built this business to express my creativity and innovation. But somewhere along the way, I started running it like someone else's company." In Ubuntu philosophy, we understand that when we deny our authentic nature, we not only diminish ourselves; we rob our community of our unique gifts. Rebecca's team had hired on to work with an innovative creative leader. Instead, they were getting a frustrated operations manager. Her energy misalignment was affecting everyone around her. The Alignment Solution The solution wasn't selling the agency or starting over. It was redesigning her role to match her energy type. Here's what we implemented over eight months: Energy Alignment Changes: Hired a Builder-type COO (David) who thrived on systematic execution and operational excellence Rebecca focused on innovation work: developing new service offerings, exploring emerging marketing technologies, creating breakthrough strategies for select clients Redesigned client relationships: Rebecca now leads strategic visioning sessions and innovation workshops rather than routine check-ins Created partnership opportunities: building relationships with cutting-edge tech companies and industry innovators Speaking and thought leadership: sharing insights at industry conferences and through content creation The Results Were Remarkable: Personal energy transformation: Rebecca started looking forward to Monday mornings for the first time in years Business growth acceleration: agency revenue grew 60% through innovative service offerings Team…

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