Calendar Energy Audit Reveals Zone of Genius

The Energy Audit approach helps identify your zone of genius by analyzing where you naturally excel and find joy, allowing you to focus your career on work that energizes rather than depletes you.

How to Find Your Zone of Genius Through an Energy Audit

An energy audit helps you identify where you naturally excel and find fulfillment, guiding your career decisions toward sustainable success.

• Categorize your recent work activities into three energy levels:

  • "I hated doing this"
  • "It was fine but didn't energize me"
  • "I loved this and could happily spend all my time on it"

• Focus on the highest energy category to identify patterns:

  • What types of work consistently energize you?
  • Where do you lose track of time because you're so engaged?
  • Which activities do you look forward to on your calendar?

• Ask yourself: "What do I do that no one else in this organization can do?"

  • Identify your unique differentiators
  • Look for skills that are hard to replicate
  • Find your natural strengths that others struggle with

• Examine where your skills cross functional boundaries:

  • Can you effectively translate between different disciplines?
  • Do you naturally bridge gaps between teams?
  • Are you comfortable moving between strategic and tactical levels?

• Use these insights to:

  • Reshape your current role to include more high-energy work
  • Guide your next career move toward roles that leverage your zone of genius
  • Identify skills worth developing that complement your natural strengths

• Practical application:

  • Review your calendar for the past month
  • Write down all activities and group them by energy level
  • Analyze what the highest-energy activities have in common
  • Look for ways to do more of what energizes you

This approach helps you build a sustainable career by focusing on work that doesn't just leverage your skills, but also brings you joy and fulfillment.