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.…

0 commentaire

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…

0 commentaire

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…

0 commentaire

The 3 PM Energy Crisis That’s Crushing High-Performing Leaders

By Sénamé Agbossou After 25 years of coaching business owners and executives across Europe and Africa, I've witnessed a troubling pattern that affects even the most successful leaders: the 3 PM energy crash. It's not about caffeine withdrawal or lunch choices. It's something much deeper. The Hidden Struggle of High Performers Last month, I sat across from Elena, a brilliant CEO who had built three successful companies over the past decade. Her latest venture was thriving: revenue growing 40% year-over-year, team of 85 people, industry recognition flowing in. But Elena looked exhausted. "I love what I do," she told me, "but by mid-afternoon, I feel like I'm running on empty. I used to think I just needed better time management or maybe more delegation. But I've tried everything." Elena's story isn't unique. In fact, it's become the norm among the leaders I work with. They're achieving external success while battling internal energy depletion. The Real Problem: Energy Misalignment Here's what I've discovered after working with hundreds of leaders: Your energy isn't broken. You're just using it wrong. Think of it like this: Elena is what I call an "Explorer" energy type: someone naturally energized by innovation, breakthrough thinking, and pioneering new approaches. But as her companies grew, she found herself spending 80% of her time in detailed operational oversight, systematic process management, and routine decision-making. It's like asking a race car to pull a plow. Both are powerful machines, but they're designed for completely different purposes. The Ubuntu Connection In the Ubuntu philosophy, we understand that "I am because we are." Our individual energy affects the collective energy of our teams and organizations. When leaders operate against their natural energy patterns, it doesn't just drain them; it creates ripple effects throughout their entire organization. Teams start to mirror their leader's energy depletion. Innovation stagnates. Decision-making becomes sluggish. The very success that leaders have built becomes the source of their exhaustion. What I've Learned About Energy Patterns Over 25 years, I've identified that work energy follows predictable patterns. The leaders who feel alive at 5 PM while others are burnt out? They've discovered something crucial: their natural work energy pattern and designed their role around it. These leaders understand that: Energy alignment isn't selfish, it’s strategic Sustainable high performance requires working with your nature, not against it When you operate in your energy zone, you elevate everyone around you Common Energy Drains (And What They Reveal) Pay attention to what consistently drains your energy at work: Endless meetings that go nowhere might indicate you're an Explorer type craving innovation over routine discussion. Detailed administrative tasks could signal you're a Driver type built for momentum, not maintenance. Working in isolation for extended periods might mean you're a Connector type who needs collaborative energy. Constant pressure for quick decisions could indicate you're a Sensemaker type who needs time for deep analysis. Surface-level work without deeper meaning might reveal you're wired for strategic thinking and long-term impact. The Path Forward The solution isn't working…

0 commentaire

Fin du contenu

Aucune page supplémentaire à charger