エピソード

  • 265. Miserable Employees

    265. Miserable Employees
    2026/03/31
    How would your team’s culture shift if you started catching people doing their jobs well and celebrating those moments publicly?In episode 265 of At The Table, Pat Lencioni and Cody Thompson revisit Pat’s book The Truth About Employee Engagement, arguing its lessons are crucial now. They unpack the three root causes of employee misery - anonymity, irrelevance, and immeasurement - and show how any manager can improve work experience by addressing these human needs. Through stories and takeaways, they emphasize that making employees feel known, valued, and empowered to measure success requires only intentional, consistent attention.Topics explored in this episode: (00:06:46) Why the Solution Works EverywhereCody reflects on how remarkable it is that the book’s solution applies equally to an airport fast-food worker and a Fortune 100 executive.Pat introduces the first sign of a miserable job, anonymity, explaining that employees who feel unseen and unknown by their managers simply cannot love coming to work, no matter how much they earn.(00:12:25) Retention, Counterculture & Practical AdvicePat and Cody discuss how knowing employees personally is a powerful and often overlooked retention strategy, noting that people rarely leave workplaces where they feel genuinely cared for as human beings.Why leaders should be vulnerable, admit the lapse openly, and invite employees to “catch you up” on their lives, then share what’s going on in your own.(00:16:42) Why Every Job Must Matter to SomeonePat introduces the second sign of a miserable job, irrelevance, and illustrates it vividly by describing how a manager at the airport restaurant could tell that young employee his real purpose: to introduce a moment of joy and kindness into otherwise stressed travelers’ days.Cody and Pat agree that the manager’s responsibility is not only to articulate why a job matters, but to actively “catch” employees making a difference and celebrate those moments, because what gets celebrated gets repeated.(00:23:25) Immeasurement, the One-Minute Manager Demo & ClosingPat introduces the third sign, immeasurement, arguing that every employee needs a way to assess their own performance that doesn’t depend solely on a manager’s subjective opinion.Pat is challenging listeners to immediately improve in one area of knowing their people, reminding them why their work matters, and helping them measure their success.This episode of At The Table 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. Subscribe for more content from Patrick Lencioni @PatrickLencioniOfficialStay Connected with Patrick LencioniLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-lencioni-orghealthInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/patricklencioniofficialTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@patricklencioniofficialX: https://x.com/patricklencioniAt The Table with Patrick LencioniApple: https://apple.co/4hJKKSLSpotify: https://spoti.fi/4l1aop0YouTube: https://bit.ly/At-The-Table-Be sure to check out our other podcast, The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni, on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4iNz6Yn), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3raC053GF5mtkq6Y1klpRU), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/Working-Genius-YouTube). Let us know your feedback via podcast@tablegroup.com. This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.
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    30 分
  • 264. Give It Up

    264. Give It Up
    2026/03/17
    What is one behavior you repeat that may be undermining your leadership?In episode 264 of At The Table, Patrick Lencioni and Cody Thompson discuss how leaders can grow by identifying habits such as interrupting others, avoiding conflict, or deflecting discomfort with humor. Leadership advice often focuses on adding new tools, strategies, and frameworks, but sometimes the most powerful improvement comes from stopping a behavior that undermines your team. By practicing “addition by subtraction,” leaders can create healthier teams simply by removing one recurring behavior.Topics explored in this episode:(00:00:00) The Idea Of Leadership SubtractionPatrick Lencioni introduces the concept that leaders can improve by stopping behaviors rather than constantly adding new practices.The hosts frame the discussion around the Lenten tradition of giving something up and apply that idea to leadership.(00:02:11) Personal Leadership Habits That Get In The WayPatrick reflects on his tendency to interrupt others and explains how impatience and quick thinking contribute to that habit.Cody shares his own leadership tendency to use humor in uncomfortable situations and how that can sometimes derail important conversations.(00:07:56) Examples Of Leaders Who Needed To Stop A BehaviorPatrick shares stories of leaders who weakened their credibility by constantly talking about themselves or seeking affirmation.The conversation highlights how repeated behaviors can slowly erode trust within a team.(00:09:55) When Leaders Shut Down Or Ignore ConflictPatrick and Cody discuss leaders who shut down disagreements or avoid addressing uncomfortable moments during meetings.They explain how ignoring conflict or difficult conversations can damage team health and prevent productive debate.This episode of At The Table 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.Subscribe for more content from Patrick Lencioni @PatrickLencioniOfficialStay Connected with Patrick LencioniLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-lencioni-orghealthInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/patricklencioniofficialTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@patricklencioniofficialX: https://x.com/patricklencioniAt The Table with Patrick LencioniApple: https://apple.co/4hJKKSLSpotify: https://spoti.fi/4l1aop0YouTube: https://bit.ly/At-The-Table-Be sure to check out our other podcast, The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni, on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4iNz6Yn), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3raC053GF5mtkq6Y1klpRU), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/Working-Genius-YouTube).Let us know your feedback via podcast@tablegroup.com.This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.
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    21 分
  • 263. Short Range Strategy

    263. Short Range Strategy
    2026/03/03

    How can strategy stay intentional when planning cycles keep shrinking?

    In episode 263 of At The Table, Patrick Lencioni and Cody Thompson examine how the pace of change has transformed strategic planning. What once centered on five or ten-year plans now often lives within a three to six-month horizon.


    Rather than viewing this shift as chaotic, Patrick and Cody explain why a short-cycle strategy can be more responsible and effective. They explore how clarity of purpose and strong organizational health provide the stability needed to navigate constant change.


    Topics explored in this episode:


    (00:03:57) Why Planning Horizons Have Shrunk

    Technology and the rapid flow of information have dramatically accelerated the pace of change.

    Businesses and industries now evolve so quickly that long-term certainty is nearly impossible.


    (00:07:24) Planning Without Panic

    A short-term strategy should not be confused with constant urgency or chaos.

    Leaders can use sprint-based planning and frequent reassessment to stay intentional and focused.


    (00:11:13) Values Replace Long-Term Predictions

    Clear purpose and behavioral values now anchor organizations more than long-range forecasts.

    Teams should focus on reaching the next base camp rather than mapping the entire journey.


    (00:14:08) Organizational Health Creates Resilience

    Strong culture and clarity provide stability when strategies must change quickly.

    Healthy organizations can survive rapid shifts while competitors without strong foundations struggle.


    This episode of At The Table 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.


    At The Table is a podcast that lives at the connection between work life, leadership, organizational health, and culture. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4hJKKSL), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/6NWAZzkzl4ljxX7S2xkHvu), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/At-The-Table-YouTube).


    Follow Pat Lencioni on https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-lencioni-orghealth, http://www.youtube.com/@PatrickLencioniOfficial, and https://x.com/patricklencioni.


    Be sure to check out our other podcast, The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni, on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4iNz6Yn), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3raC053GF5mtkq6Y1klpRU), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/Working-Genius-YouTube).


    Let us know your feedback via podcast@tablegroup.com.


    This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.
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    17 分
  • 262. Be an Extremist

    262. Be an Extremist
    2026/02/17

    What are you willing to repel in order to attract the right people?

    In this episode of At The Table, Patrick Lencioni and Cody Thompson challenge the idea that businesses should try to appeal to everyone. Instead, they argue for being intentionally extreme in two areas: core values and strategic anchors. When organizations are unmistakably clear about how they behave and how they succeed, they naturally repel the wrong employees and customers while attracting the right ones. Through examples like In-N-Out, Dutch Bros, Costco, and Nordstrom, they show how clarity and conviction create a stronger culture, cleaner decision-making, and more loyal teams and customers.


    Topics explored in this episode:


    (00:00) Why Great Organizations Repel the Wrong People

    * How strong values naturally filter out misaligned employees and customers

    * Why trying to include everyone weakens culture


    (04:11) Extreme Culture as a Competitive Advantage

    * How distinctive companies become “weird” on purpose

    * Why noticeable culture creates loyalty and differentiation


    (07:46) Strategic Anchors and the Power of Saying No

    * How a clear strategy eliminates distractions and opportunistic growth

    * Why discipline matters more than chasing every opportunity


    (11:33) Attracting the Right Customers by Design

    * How strong strategy repels misaligned customers

    * Why businesses grow faster when they stop trying to serve everyone


    This episode of At The Table 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.


    At The Table is a podcast that lives at the connection between work life, leadership, organizational health, and culture. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4hJKKSL), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/6NWAZzkzl4ljxX7S2xkHvu), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/At-The-Table-YouTube).


    Follow Pat Lencioni on https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-lencioni-orghealth, http://www.youtube.com/@PatrickLencioniOfficial, and https://x.com/patricklencioni.


    Be sure to check out our other podcast, The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni, on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4iNz6Yn), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3raC053GF5mtkq6Y1klpRU), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/Working-Genius-YouTube).


    Let us know your feedback via podcast@tablegroup.com.


    This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.
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    18 分
  • 261. Think Like A Six-Year-Old

    261. Think Like A Six-Year-Old
    2026/02/03

    Are you creating a workplace environment that feels like a cage or a park?

    In episode 261 of At The Table, Patrick and Cody unpack a powerful metaphor—“cocaine water”—to explain the dangers of isolation at work. Drawing from a well-known behavioral experiment that involves cages and parks, they connect addiction, loneliness, and disengagement to modern workplace culture. The conversation makes a compelling case that real connection at work fuels not only productivity but also dignity, healing, and human flourishing.


    Topics explored in this episode:


    (00:00) Embracing Humility and Vulnerability

    * Importance of admitting lack of understanding

    * Challenges in societal pressures


    (07:32) The Power of Simplicity

    * Importance of clear and understandable explanations

    * The impact of simplicity in business settings


    (14:45) Personal Accountability and Mentorship

    * Maintaining a healthy lifestyle through personal accountability

    * Role of organizational mentors in reinforcing basic principles

    * Parallels between personal and organizational growth


    (21:19) Success Through Simplicity and Discipline

    * Requirements for organizational success

    * Test of true understanding and leadership


    This episode of At The Table 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.


    At The Table is a podcast that lives at the connection between work life, leadership, organizational health, and culture. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4hJKKSL), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/6NWAZzkzl4ljxX7S2xkHvu), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/At-The-Table-YouTube).


    Follow Pat Lencioni on https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-lencioni-orghealth, http://www.youtube.com/@PatrickLencioniOfficial, and https://x.com/patricklencioni.


    Be sure to check out our other podcast, The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni, on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4iNz6Yn), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3raC053GF5mtkq6Y1klpRU), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/Working-Genius-YouTube).


    Let us know your feedback via podcast@tablegroup.com.


    This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.
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    23 分
  • 260. Isolation vs. Connection

    260. Isolation vs. Connection
    2026/01/20

    Are you creating a workplace environment that feels like a cage or a park?

    In episode 260 of At The Table, Patrick and Cody unpack a powerful metaphor—“cocaine water”—to explain the dangers of isolation at work. Drawing from a well-known behavioral experiment that involves cages and parks, they connect addiction, loneliness, and disengagement to modern workplace culture. The conversation makes a compelling case that real connection at work fuels not only productivity but also dignity, healing, and human flourishing.


    Topics explored in this episode:


    (01:23) The Cocaine Water Experiment

    * A behavioral experiment shows how isolation drives destructive choices, while community changes behavior.

    * The concept of a “rat park” illustrates how connection can eliminate addiction entirely.


    (04:08) Isolation and Remote Work

    * Reframing the remote-work debate as a question of human connection rather than location.


    (07:52) Dignity and Productivity Are Not Opposites

    * Connection improves results, satisfaction, and performance simultaneously.


    (13:54) Why Humans Need Multiple Communities

    * People are designed for varied relationships, not constant isolation or constant proximity.

    * Healthy work provides experiences worth bringing home and sharing with others.


    This episode of At The Table 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.


    At The Table is a podcast that lives at the connection between work life, leadership, organizational health, and culture. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4hJKKSL), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/6NWAZzkzl4ljxX7S2xkHvu), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/At-The-Table-YouTube).


    Follow Pat Lencioni on https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-lencioni-orghealth, http://www.youtube.com/@PatrickLencioniOfficial, and https://x.com/patricklencioni.


    Be sure to check out our other podcast, The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni, on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4iNz6Yn), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3raC053GF5mtkq6Y1klpRU), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/Working-Genius-YouTube).


    Let us know your feedback via podcast@tablegroup.com.


    This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.
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    19 分
  • 259. Beware the High Achiever

    259. Beware the High Achiever
    2026/01/06

    If you’re achieving at a high level while ignoring the health of your inner life, how can you reset?

    In episode 259 of At The Table, Pat and Cody explore why high achievement can be a warning sign rather than a badge of honor. They explain how leaders often use success to compensate for fear, insecurity, or unresolved personal issues. The conversation underscores that true leadership effectiveness begins with inner health long before it shows up in organizational results.


    Topics explored in this episode:


    (00:30) The Real Cost of High Achievement

    * High achievement often masks deeper personal wounds and unmet internal needs.

    * Why leaders must address their spiritual, emotional, and relational health before chasing success.


    (03:15) The Inner Circle of Influence

    * How Stephen Covey’s “circle of influence” applies to a leader’s need to focus first on their internal well-being.

    * How fear can become the engine driving unsustainable achievement.


    (05:35) Organizational Health Begins With Leader Health

    * Warning signs: neglecting physical health, spiritual life, or family relationships despite outward business success.


    (09:27) Pat’s Personal Journey With Identity and Achievement

    * Pat opens up about decades spent tying his sense of worth to professional success and learning to shift toward internal wholeness.


    (14:25) Beware the High Achiever in Yourself and Others

    * Encouraging leaders to pursue hobbies imperfectly, embrace being “not the best,” and refuse to let performance define identity.


    This episode of At The Table 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.


    At The Table is a podcast that lives at the connection between work life, leadership, organizational health, and culture. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4hJKKSL), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/6NWAZzkzl4ljxX7S2xkHvu), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/At-The-Table-YouTube).


    Follow Pat Lencioni on https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-lencioni-orghealth, http://www.youtube.com/@PatrickLencioniOfficial, and https://x.com/patricklencioni.


    Be sure to check out our other podcast, The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni, on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4iNz6Yn), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3raC053GF5mtkq6Y1klpRU), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/Working-Genius-YouTube).


    Let us know your feedback via podcast@tablegroup.com.


    This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.
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    19 分
  • 258. The Fruits of Recommitment

    258. The Fruits of Recommitment
    2025/12/23

    Why does recommitting to trust matter more than recommitting to strategy?

    Episode 258 of At The Table episode explores the moments when teams and relationships reach a breaking point—where everything could unravel or deepen. Pat and Cody reflect on their own recent off-site, sharing how choosing vulnerability and recommitment led them to greater unity, clarity, and trust. They argue that the “messy” work of recommitting isn’t soft; it’s the most essential and transformative part of leadership.


    Topics explored in this episode:


    (03:17) Why the Cliff Always Feels Real

    * Early moments in The Table Group’s history when setbacks could have ended everything but ultimately created stronger bonds.

    * Parallels between organizational plateaus and long-term marriage.


    (07:06) Messiness, Trust, and Misconceptions

    * Why leaders shouldn’t judge their own teams for imperfection.

    * Challenging the myth that offsites should be purely strategic.


    (10:58) The Moment of Truth

    * The “moment of truth” where a leader either risks more vulnerability or puts a ceiling on the entire organization.


    (15:03) Recommitment as the Path to Fruitfulness

    * Why trust—not strategy—is what makes or breaks performance, speed, and long-term health.

    * How naming hard truths unlocked unity, clarity, and deeper commitment.


    This episode of At The Table 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.


    At The Table is a podcast that lives at the connection between work life, leadership, organizational health, and culture. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4hJKKSL), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/6NWAZzkzl4ljxX7S2xkHvu), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/At-The-Table-YouTube).


    Follow Pat Lencioni on https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-lencioni-orghealth, http://www.youtube.com/@PatrickLencioniOfficial, and https://x.com/patricklencioni.


    Be sure to check out our other podcast, The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni, on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4iNz6Yn), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3raC053GF5mtkq6Y1klpRU), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/Working-Genius-YouTube).


    Let us know your feedback via podcast@tablegroup.com.


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