The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni

Why do traditional “fun at work” solutions often fall short?

In episode 112 of the Working Genius Podcast, Patrick Lencioni, Cody Thompson, and Matthew Lencioni discuss the idea of fun at work, arguing that real enjoyment comes from operating within your Working Genius rather than relying on perks or surface-level incentives. Pat and Cody explore how different people experience the same activity in different ways based on their strengths, and how this applies across work, hobbies, and even vacations. Leaders who align roles with natural energy unlock not only better performance but a more joyful and engaged team.

Topics explored in this episode:

(00:00) Why fun at work matters
Fun at work is often misunderstood as perks rather than meaningful engagement.
Working in your genius makes time feel faster and work more enjoyable.

(03:02) How Working Genius shapes enjoyment
Teams naturally enjoy work more when roles align with strengths.
Misalignment leads to frustration and removes the sense of fun.

(06:16) The problem with surface-level fun
Companies often try to add fun outside of work instead of within it.
True engagement comes from making the work itself energizing.

(10:25) Why activities feel fun to some but not others
The same activity can feel energizing or painful depending on the person.
Working Genius explains why people experience identical tasks differently.

(15:48) Designing teams around energy and strengths
Teams perform better when work is divided based on what energizes individuals.
Leaders should prioritize alignment over rigid job descriptions.

This episode of The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni is brought to you by The Table Group: https://www.tablegroup.com. We teach leaders how to make work more effective and less dysfunctional. We also help their employees be more fulfilled and less miserable.

Register for “Why Your Spouse Acts That Way” here: workinggenius.com/marriage

The Six Types of Working Genius model helps you discover your natural gifts and thrive in your work and life. When you’re able to better understand the types of work that bring you more energy and fulfillment and avoid work that leads to frustration and failure, you can be more self-aware, more productive, and more successful. The Six Types of Working Genius assessment is the fastest and simplest way to discover your natural gifts and thrive at work: https://workinggenius.me/about

Subscribe for more content from Patrick Lencioni @PatrickLencioniOfficial

Stay Connected with Patrick Lencioni
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-lencioni-orghealth
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patricklencioniofficial
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@patricklencioniofficial
X: https://x.com/patricklencioni

The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni
Apple: https://apple.co/4iNz6Yn
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4iGGm8u
YouTube: https://bit.ly/Working-Genius-YouTube
Be sure to check out our other podcast, At The Table with Patrick Lencioni, on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4hJKKSL), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/6NWAZzkzl4ljxX7S2xkHvu), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/At-The-Table-YouTube).

Let us know your feedback via [email protected].

This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.

How is a lack of self-awareness quietly limiting your effectiveness?

Blind spots aren’t just personal quirks; they’re often the root of frustration, conflict, and stalled growth. In episode 111 of the Working Genius Podcast, Patrick Lencioni, Cody Thompson, and Matthew Lencioni explore how the Working Genius framework can expose what you can’t see about yourself. By increasing self-awareness and inviting honest feedback, you can turn hidden liabilities into opportunities for trust and growth.

Topics explored in this episode:

(00:00:00) Why Blind Spots Matter
A lack of self-awareness creates friction in relationships and at work.
People extend grace more easily when someone acknowledges their flaws.

(00:03:12) Understanding the Johari Window
The blind spot quadrant represents what others see, but you don’t.
Reducing this quadrant is critical for growth and effectiveness.

(00:06:40) When You Think You’re Good at Everything
Believing you have no weaknesses creates frustration for others.
Mislabeling frustrations as strengths leads to burnout and poor collaboration.

(00:10:33) The Power of Naming Your Weaknesses
Self-awareness builds trust and invites support from others.
Denial pushes feedback away and isolates you from help.

(00:15:26) Giving and Receiving Hard Feedback
Honest feedback is a gift, even when it’s uncomfortable.
Tools like Working Genius make difficult conversations easier and safer.

This episode of The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni is brought to you by The Table Group: https://www.tablegroup.com. We teach leaders how to make work more effective and less dysfunctional. We also help their employees be more fulfilled and less miserable.

The Six Types of Working Genius model helps you discover your natural gifts and thrive in your work and life. When you’re able to better understand the types of work that bring you more energy and fulfillment and avoid work that leads to frustration and failure, you can be more self-aware, more productive, and more successful. The Six Types of Working Genius assessment is the fastest and simplest way to discover your natural gifts and thrive at work: https://workinggenius.me/about

Subscribe for more content from Patrick Lencioni @PatrickLencioniOfficial

Stay Connected with Patrick Lencioni
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-lencioni-orghealth
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patricklencioniofficial
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@patricklencioniofficial
X: https://x.com/patricklencioni

The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni
Apple: https://apple.co/4iNz6Yn
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4iGGm8u
YouTube: https://bit.ly/Working-Genius-YouTube
Be sure to check out our other podcast, At The Table with Patrick Lencioni, on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4hJKKSL), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/6NWAZzkzl4ljxX7S2xkHvu), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/At-The-Table-YouTube).

Let us know your feedback via [email protected].

This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.

What does your Working Genius look like when you're under stress, and would you even recognize it in yourself?

In episode 110 of the Working Genius Podcast, Pat Lencioni, Cody Thompson, and Matt Lencioni explore what happens to each of the six Working Genius types when they're under stress, a state they call being "in the grip." Walking through Wonder, Invention, Discernment, Galvanizing, Enablement, and Tenacity letter by letter, the team uncovers how each type's greatest strengths can become their most challenging behaviors when unregulated. The conversation closes with a practical and compassionate framework for extending grace to teammates in the grip, recognizing that what looks like a flaw may simply be a strength operating under too much pressure.

Topics explored in this episode:

(00:00:03) Wonder in the Grip
Pat, Cody, and Matt introduce "in the grip,” what each Working Genius type looks like when strengths become distorted under stress.
The team explores the Wonder type, revealing how natural curiosity can spiral into analysis paralysis, endless questioning, and loss of direction.

(00:05:15) ADHD, Procrastination, and Invention in the Grip
Pat connects Wonder under stress to procrastination and ADHD misdiagnosis.
The team turns to Invention, describing how the drive to generate ideas becomes chaotic under stress.

(00:09:46) Discernment and Galvanizing Under Pressure
The group unpacks Discernment in the grip, how the healthy instinct to evaluate ideas can tip into hypercriticism, cynicism, and judgment under stress.
They move to Galvanizing, exploring how the drive to inspire movement can turn into pushiness and impatience when stress takes hold.

(00:15:41) Enablement and Tenacity When Unregulated
The team explores Enablement in the grip, how the instinct to help can lead to overcommitment, exhaustion, and quiet resentment when the enabler's own needs go unmet.
They turn to Tenacity, noting how discipline and follow-through can slide into rigidity, isolation, and frustration with those perceived as lazy or uncommitted.

(00:20:28) Applying This to Teams, Pairings, and Closing
Pat, Cody, and Matt explore how genius pairs stop working together under stress, and how leaders can use this framework to start grace-filled conversations with struggling team members.

This episode of The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni is brought to you by The Table Group: https://www.tablegroup.com. We teach leaders how to make work more effective and less dysfunctional. We also help their employees be more fulfilled and less miserable.

The Six Types of Working Genius model helps you discover your natural gifts and thrive in your work and life. When you’re able to better understand the types of work that bring you more energy and fulfillment and avoid work that leads to frustration and failure, you can be more self-aware, more productive, and more successful. The Six Types of Working Genius assessment is the fastest and simplest way to discover your natural gifts and thrive at work: https://workinggenius.me/about

Subscribe for more content from Patrick Lencioni @PatrickLencioniOfficial

Stay Connected with Patrick Lencioni
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-lencioni-orghealth
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patricklencioniofficial
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@patricklencioniofficial
X: https://x.com/patricklencioni

The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni
Apple: https://apple.co/4iNz6Yn
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4iGGm8u
YouTube: https://bit.ly/Working-Genius-YouTube

Be sure to check out our other podcast, At The Table with Patrick Lencioni, on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4hJKKSL), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/6NWAZzkzl4ljxX7S2xkHvu), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/At-The-Table-YouTube).
Let us know your feedback via [email protected].

This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.

How can you tell which Working Genius pairing defines the company where you work?
In episode 109 of the Working Genius Podcast, Patrick Lencioni and Cody Thompson explore whether organizations have a dominant Working Genius pairing just like individuals do. Joined by Matthew Lencioni, they test the idea against well known brands and unpack how culture, customer experience, and leadership all point to a company’s natural strengths and blind spots.

Matthew Lencioni is part strategist, part behind the scenes operator, and fully immersed in the world of Working Genius. As a key voice at The Table Group, he helps translate big ideas into practical applications, while also keeping Patrick and Cody honest when their theories start getting a little too comfortable.

Topics explored in this episode:

(00:00:33) Can a company have a genius?
Patrick introduces the idea that organizations may have dominant Working Genius pairings just like individuals do.
Cody explains that company culture and customer experience often make those pairings visible to employees and customers alike.

(00:05:44) Comparing big brands
Patrick and Cody compare In N Out and Chick fil A to show how similar companies can operate from very different genius pairings.
They argue that In N Out reflects efficient service and execution, while Chick fil A leans more heavily into encouragement and relational energy.

(00:10:40) Starbucks, Shark Tank, and the role of discernment
Patrick and Cody examine Starbucks as a company shaped by discernment and tenacity through curation and operational consistency.
They also debate Shark Tank’s pairing and conclude that its format centers on evaluating opportunities and driving action.

(00:16:57) What WI companies struggle to do
The discussion shifts to wonder and invention, with Patrick and Cody noting that WI organizations may generate brilliant ideas without carrying them into activation or implementation.
They caution that employees with strong WI may need the right environment or the right role to feel fully used and energized.

(00:22:09) Founders, company bias, and practical implications
Patrick and Cody discuss how a founder’s genius can shape a company’s culture, using Dave Ramsey and The Table Group as examples.
Patrick closes by warning leaders not to push out employees with different geniuses, since companies need a fuller range of strengths than their dominant pairing alone provides.

This episode of The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni is brought to you by The Table Group: https://www.tablegroup.com. We teach leaders how to make work more effective and less dysfunctional. We also help their employees be more fulfilled and less miserable.
The Six Types of Working Genius model helps you discover your natural gifts and thrive in your work and life. When you’re able to better understand the types of work that bring you more energy and fulfillment and avoid work that leads to frustration and failure, you can be more self-aware, more productive, and more successful. The Six Types of Working Genius assessment is the fastest and simplest way to discover your natural gifts and thrive at work: https://workinggenius.me/about

Subscribe for more content from Patrick Lencioni @PatrickLencioniOfficial

Stay Connected with Patrick Lencioni
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-lencioni-orghealth
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patricklencioniofficial
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@patricklencioniofficial
X: https://x.com/patricklencioni

Stay Connected with Cody Thompson
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cody-thompson-a5918850.

The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni

Apple: https://apple.co/4iNz6Yn
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4iGGm8u
YouTube: https://bit.ly/Working-Genius-YouTube

Be sure to check out our other podcast, At The Table with Patrick Lencioni, on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4hJKKSL), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/6NWAZzkzl4ljxX7S2xkHvu), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/At-The-Table-YouTube).
Let us know your feedback via [email protected].

This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.

Why do people often react defensively when receiving criticism?
In episode 108 of the Working Genius Podcast, Patrick Lencioni and Cody Thompson examine the crucial difference between criticism and constructive feedback. They explain how understanding someone’s Working Genius helps leaders frame feedback to acknowledge strengths while encouraging adjustments when necessary. By leading with appreciation and clarity, feedback becomes a gift that helps people grow rather than a criticism that discourages them.

Topics explored in this episode:

(00:00:00) Why Feedback Often Feels Like Criticism
Patrick explains why feedback should be filtered through someone’s Working Genius profile.

He argues that without understanding how someone is wired, feedback can unintentionally come across as criticism of their identity.

(00:03:09) The Fundamental Attribution Error
Patrick and Cody explore how people often assume others’ behavior is caused by character flaws rather than natural tendencies.

They explain how recognizing someone’s wiring can lead to more grace and better communication.

(00:07:05) Feedback Through the Lens of Strengths
Cody shares examples of how strengths like invention can be misunderstood as ego or disruption.

Patrick explains how acknowledging strengths before giving feedback allows people to receive the message more openly.

(00:09:06) Real Life Examples of Constructive Feedback
Patrick and Cody discuss examples from client work and personal relationships where feedback was delivered through the Working Genius framework.

They highlight how framing feedback as a gift helps people grow without discouraging their strengths.

(00:13:54) Regulating Strengths Instead of Suppressing Them
Patrick explains that strengths must sometimes be regulated depending on the situation or role.

The episode closes with encouragement to use Working Genius knowledge to give feedback that builds confidence rather than shame.

This episode of The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni is brought to you by The Table Group: https://www.tablegroup.com. We teach leaders how to make work more effective and less dysfunctional. We also help their employees be more fulfilled and less miserable.
The Six Types of Working Genius model helps you discover your natural gifts and thrive in your work and life. When you’re able to better understand the types of work that bring you more energy and fulfillment and avoid work that leads to frustration and failure, you can be more self-aware, more productive, and more successful. The Six Types of Working Genius assessment is the fastest and simplest way to discover your natural gifts and thrive at work: https://workinggenius.me/about

Subscribe for more content from Patrick Lencioni @PatrickLencioniOfficial

Stay Connected with Patrick Lencioni
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-lencioni-orghealth
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patricklencioniofficial
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@patricklencioniofficial
X: https://x.com/patricklencioni

The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni
Apple: https://apple.co/4iNz6Yn
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4iGGm8u
YouTube: https://bit.ly/Working-Genius-YouTube

Be sure to check out our other podcast, At The Table with Patrick Lencioni, on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4hJKKSL), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/6NWAZzkzl4ljxX7S2xkHvu), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/At-The-Table-YouTube).

Let us know your feedback via [email protected].

This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.