EP #118 Choose Joyful Work: Discover Your Working Genius

What if the secret to a stronger team isn’t more effort, but better alignment with the work that gives each person energy? We welcome leadership consultant and longtime nonprofit leader Janel Donohue for a candid, story-rich conversation about turning joy into performance and building cultures that last. From HR beginnings and a painful corporate collapse to 15 years as a United Way CEO, Janel traces the moments that shaped her philosophy: accept it, change it, or move on.

We dig into Patrick Lencioni’s Six Types of Working Genius and how this simple framework helps teams stop forcing fit. Janel shares how discovering her own strengths in discernment and galvanizing changed the way she leads, delegates, and protects her energy. You’ll hear how a two-hour workshop can reset a team’s mindset, giving people a shared language for collaboration, clearer project roles, and fewer turf battles. The result isn’t theory—it’s practical, immediate shifts that help organizations across corporate, nonprofit, and government find momentum without burning people out.

Janel also pushes back on myths about leadership consulting. The work isn’t glamorous; it’s deep preparation, honest facilitation, and constant iteration. Her advice for founders and managers is refreshingly actionable: don’t wait for perfect branding to start making a difference. Take the next step, learn in public, and improve as you go. Along the way, we get personal—travel that restores perspective, pickleball that adds play, and routines that keep leaders grounded. If you’re ready to bring a fresh perspective into your team, unlock hidden strengths, and rebuild morale with intention, this conversation delivers clarity and tools you can use right away.

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Janel Donohue

J Donohue Leadership and Consulting

[email protected]