The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni

Can you truly be bad at something that is one of your Working Geniuses? In episode 122 of the Working Genius Podcast, Pat Lencioni and Cody Thompson explore whether someone can genuinely be “bad” at one of their Working Geniuses and reveal why the answer is more complicated than it first appears. They examine how assessment accuracy, genius pairings, timing, context, environment, and expectations can cause a genuine strength to be misunderstood or poorly applied. They also warn that becoming exceptionally good at work that drains you can create its own trap, leading others to expect more of the very work you should not be doing constantly. Topics explored in this episode: (00:00) Can You Be Bad at Your Genius? Pat introduces the surprising possibility that becoming skilled at work outside your genius can create long-term problems. Pat and Cody begin unpacking whether someone can genuinely have a Working Genius while appearing to be bad at it. (04:26) Why Genius Pairings Change Everything Cody explains how the second letter in a Working Genius pairing can dramatically change how a particular genius appears in practice. Pat and Cody contrast different forms of Invention, showing why one inventor may generate wild conceptual ideas while another focuses on practical systems and implementation. (08:28) The Danger of Getting Good at Your Frustrations Pat and Cody discuss why becoming highly competent at work that drains you can cause other people to continually expect that work from you. Pat shares how years of succeeding in his frustrations created such a strong aversion that even relatively simple Tenacity-related tasks can now feel difficult. (12:00) Using Your Genius at the Wrong Time Cody explains that a genius can look ineffective or even destructive when it is used out of sequence, aimed at the wrong problem, or applied when it is not needed. Pat emphasizes the difference between possessing genuine ability and knowing how to regulate that ability according to timing and context. (16:09) How Environment Shapes Your Genius Pat and Cody explore how the quality of the surrounding product, organization, or situation can affect whether someone appears successful in their genius. They close by discussing how family, culture, education, comparison, and environment can shape a person's understanding of how strong they actually are in a particular genius. This episode of The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni is brought to you by The Table Group: 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. Take the assessment today 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://workinggenius.me/apple Spotify: https://workinggenius.me/sptfy YouTube: https://workinggenius.me/wgyt Be sure to check out our other podcast, At The Table with Patrick Lencioni, on Apple Podcasts (https://tablegroup.me/apple), Spotify (https://tablegroup.me/sptfy), and YouTube (https://tablegroup.me/youtube). Let us know your feedback via [email protected]. This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.

What if your job title is keeping you from seeing better career opportunities? In episode 121 of the Working Genius Podcast, Pat Lencioni and Cody Thompson challenge the traditional idea that a career should be defined by a title, industry, degree, or resume. They explain how Working Genius can help people identify the work that gives them energy and discover opportunities in places they might never have considered. They also explore how employers can use Working Genius to hire for natural strengths and passion rather than relying primarily on technical experience. Topics explored in this episode: (00:00) Stop Defining Yourself by Your Field Pat and Cody explain why defining a career by a company, industry, degree, or job title can unnecessarily limit the opportunities people consider. Working Genius offers another way to think about a career by focusing on the work that naturally brings someone energy, joy, and fulfillment. (04:34) Look Beyond the Name on Your Business Card Cody explains how two people with the same profession can contribute in very different ways depending on their Working Geniuses. Pat and Cody explore how transferable strengths can create opportunities across professions and industries instead of trapping people in one established career path. (09:38) Go Where Your Strengths Are Most Valued Cody shares the story of a vintage watch whose perceived value changes depending on where it is taken, illustrating why the same abilities can be valued very differently across organizations. Pat encourages people to look for workplaces that genuinely need and appreciate their strengths rather than simply pursuing jobs that resemble their previous experience. (14:43) Take a Risk on the Work That Energizes You Pat shares how he escaped an unfulfilling internal audit role by proposing a creative employee morale initiative despite having no formal experience doing that kind of work. Pat and Cody argue that natural strengths, passion, and a willingness to take risks can sometimes matter more than degrees, credentials, or years of technical experience. (19:19) Hire for Genius, Not Just Experience Pat and Cody explain how organizations can find overlooked talent by identifying the Working Geniuses a role actually requires instead of relying primarily on industry experience. They discuss how Working Genius can be used during hiring to help candidates determine whether they will genuinely enjoy the work and help employers find people whose strengths fit the role. This episode of The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni is brought to you by The Table Group: 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. Take the assessment today 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://workinggenius.me/apple Spotify: https://workinggenius.me/sptfy YouTube: https://workinggenius.me/wgyt Be sure to check out our other podcast, At The Table with Patrick Lencioni, on Apple Podcasts (https://tablegroup.me/apple), Spotify (https://tablegroup.me/sptfy), and YouTube (https://tablegroup.me/youtube). Let us know your feedback via [email protected]. This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.

How might your Working Genius influence the way you naturally pray? In episode 120 of the Working Genius Podcast, Patrick Lencioni and Cody explore the idea that Working Genius may shape not only how people work, but also how they naturally approach prayer. They discuss how different forms of prayer, including spontaneous prayer, journaling, contemplation, structured prayers, silence, and group prayer, may appeal to different kinds of wiring. Ultimately, they encourage listeners to understand their natural preferences without becoming limited by them, because some of the most meaningful spiritual growth may come from praying outside their genius. Topics explored in this episode: (00:00) How Your Wiring Shapes Prayer Pat introduces the idea that people may have natural prayer preferences connected to their Working Genius, just as they have preferences in the way they approach work. He explains that understanding those tendencies can reduce guilt or self-judgment when someone does not naturally enjoy praying the same way another person does. (02:19) Finding Your Natural Prayer Style Cody connects his Discernment and Galvanizing combination to spontaneous, in-the-moment prayer and considers how disruptive versus responsive tendencies might also affect prayer. Pat gives examples of how different Working Genius combinations might lend themselves to group prayer, contemplative prayer, journaling, or more structured practices. (04:46) Why You Should Pray Outside Your Genius Pat explains that people should not limit themselves to doing only the work, or prayer, that comes naturally to them. He describes how structured prayer such as the rosary can become especially meaningful when he intentionally embraces it despite it not being his natural preference. (07:12) Stretching Beyond What Feels Comfortable Cody reflects on his difficulty maintaining practices such as journaling and silence and considers how those challenges may relate to his natural Working Genius wiring. Pat explains that accepting a natural preference can actually make it easier to engage other forms of prayer without resentment, guilt, or the feeling that prayer has become work. (09:37) Prayer, Sacrifice, and Spiritual Growth Cody compares praying outside one's natural wiring to fasting, suggesting that choosing something other than the path of least resistance can shape who a person becomes. Pat distinguishes joyful sacrifice from reluctant obligation and closes by encouraging listeners to spend a few minutes praying either in their natural way or in a way that stretches them. This episode of The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni is brought to you by The Table Group: 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. Take the assessment today 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://workinggenius.me/apple Spotify: https://workinggenius.me/sptfy YouTube: https://workinggenius.me/wgyt Be sure to check out our other podcast, At The Table with Patrick Lencioni, on Apple Podcasts (https://tablegroup.me/apple), Spotify (https://tablegroup.me/sptfy), and YouTube (https://tablegroup.me/youtube). Let us know your feedback via [email protected]. This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.

How can you identify what naturally gives your child energy and joy? In episode 119 Patrick Lencioni and Cody Thompson explore how the Working Genius model can help you better understand, affirm, and guide your children. They explain why trying to make children more well-rounded can unintentionally suppress the qualities that make them unique. You will learn how curiosity, affirmation, and awareness of your own wiring can help your children feel seen and become more confident in who they are. Topics explored in this episode: (00:00) Parenting as a Leadership Role Patrick explains why understanding a child’s Working Genius can help parents affirm natural instincts instead of treating them like problems. Patrick and Cody frame the family as an important organization that deserves the same intentional leadership and development often reserved for the workplace. (04:06) Discovering How Your Child Is Wired Parents can begin identifying a child’s genius by observing what gives them energy, what frustrates them, and what they naturally choose to do. Cody encourages parents to lead with curiosity rather than assuming their role is to straighten out or reshape a child’s natural tendencies. (07:28) Affirming Features Instead of Fixing Flaws Patrick and Cody give examples of how parents can affirm children with Wonder, Galvanizing, Discernment, and Invention. They explain how seemingly harmless corrections can communicate that a child’s deepest instincts are defects that need to be suppressed. (11:46) Letting Children Use Their Gifts The hosts examine how Enablement and Tenacity can be misunderstood when parents prioritize independence, relaxation, or conventional ideas of balance. Affirming a child’s genius creates the trust needed to guide them when they overuse a strength without making them feel ashamed of it. (15:22) How a Parent’s Genius Shapes the Home Parents can reduce guilt and judgment by recognizing how their own geniuses and frustrations influence the way they lead and respond to their children. Sharing strengths and limitations with children teaches them that nobody is good at everything and frees them to pursue careers aligned with their own gifts. This episode of The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni is brought to you by The Table Group: 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. Take the assessment today 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://workinggenius.me/apple Spotify: https://workinggenius.me/sptfy YouTube: https://workinggenius.me/wgyt Be sure to check out our other podcast, At The Table with Patrick Lencioni, on Apple Podcasts (https://tablegroup.me/apple), Spotify (https://tablegroup.me/sptfy), and YouTube (https://tablegroup.me/youtube). Let us know your feedback via [email protected]. This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.

Who makes you feel completely understood in the way you work? Spending time with people who share your Working Genius types can give you energy, joy, and the relief of feeling fully understood. In episode 118 of the Working Genius Podcast, Patrick Lencioni and Cody Thompson explain why these pressure-free interactions act like a “personality spa,” allowing you to enjoy your natural gifts without needing to produce a result. They also offer practical ideas for finding your people and creating restorative experiences at work, at home, and in your friendships. Topics explored in this episode: (00:00) The Relief of Being Understood Pat introduces the idea that Working Genius diversity is valuable, but occasionally being around people with the same genius types can be deeply restorative. Cody explains that recharging does not always require unplugging from everything because people can regain energy by plugging into the right relationships and activities. (03:09) Using Your Genius Without Pressure Pat and Cody describe how shared Discernment allows them to evaluate movies, sports, rules, and ideas simply for the enjoyment of thinking together. They explain that a “personality spa” creates permission to play with a genius without being responsible for executing the ideas that emerge. (06:33) Building Your Own Genius Playdate Pat describes the freedom people experience when they spend time with someone who shares both of their geniuses and does not require them to edit themselves. Cody shares his idea for a “minnow tank,” where entrepreneurs could bring half-formed ideas for others to discern and galvanize without the pressure of a formal business pitch. (09:44) Feeling Seen at Work and Home Pat imagines companies creating lunches for employees with matching Working Genius combinations so they can share experiences, feel understood, and positively commiserate. Cody and Pat discuss how shared genius types can create connection in friendships, marriages, and families while still producing potential blind spots. (12:24) A New Way to Recover From Burnout Cody explains that burnout often comes from the type of work a person is doing rather than simply the amount, making genius-aligned conversations a meaningful source of renewal. Pat and Cody encourage people to find a Working Genius doppelganger, schedule a pressure-free “spa date,” and share what they discover from the experience. This episode of The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni is brought to you by The Table Group: 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. Take the assessment today 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://workinggenius.me/apple Spotify: https://workinggenius.me/sptfy YouTube: https://workinggenius.me/wgyt Be sure to check out our other podcast, At The Table with Patrick Lencioni, on Apple Podcasts (https://tablegroup.me/apple), Spotify (https://tablegroup.me/sptfy), and YouTube (https://tablegroup.me/youtube). Let us know your feedback via [email protected]. This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.