The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni

How can pairing geniuses enhance the customer service experience?
In episode 105 of the Working Genius Podcast, Pat and Cody dive deep into the world of customer service roles and enablement. They explore how unique combinations of working geniuses, such as enablement paired with discernment or tenacity, can enhance customer interactions and improve service outcomes. By aligning strengths with job demands, being authentic about one's abilities, and providing tailored solutions to customers, individuals can excel in customer service roles and find satisfaction in their careers.

Topics explored in this episode:

00:00:47 – Types of Customer Service
* Great customer service depends on the right mix of working geniuses
* Enablement shines when helping others feels energizing, not draining

00:04:46 – Discernment and Enablement
* Discernment helps decode what customers actually mean
* Enablement turns confusion into clear, helpful solutions

00:06:35 – Tenacity and Enablement
* Tenacity makes sure no email or question gets left behind
* Enablement brings the drive to serve fast, fully, and well

00:11:09 – Types of Employee Geniuses
* Different genius types shape how people show up at work
* Customer service thrives when roles match natural strengths

00:24:22 – Choosing the Right Job
* The wrong role leads to burnout, even if you’re good at it
* The right fit makes work sustainable and satisfying

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 to The Working Genius Podcast on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4iNz6Yn), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3raC053GF5mtkq6Y1klpRU), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/Working-Genius-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, 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 use the Working Genius framework to reframe your traditional New Year’s resolutions so that they don’t lead to frustration or shame?
In episode 104 of the Working Genius Podcast, Patrick Lencioni and Cody Thompson introduce the idea of a “New Year’s evolution” instead of a New Year’s resolution. They explain why resolutions built on shame and weakness tend to fail and how understanding your Working Genius creates a healthier, more effective path to growth. By spending more time in your areas of strength, you can create a more energizing and sustainable year.

Topics explored in this episode:

(00:10) Why Resolutions Often Fail
* Traditional resolutions tend to focus on weaknesses and create shame.
* Starting the year by judging yourself usually leads to frustration and burnout.

(03:04) The Cost of Ignoring Your Wiring
* Trying to improve in areas that conflict with your natural wiring can be miserable.

(05:58) Know Yourself First
* The first step of a New Year’s evolution is understanding how you’re wired.

(06:32) Spend More Time in Your Genius
* Increasing time spent in your Working Genius leads to energy and thriving.

(10:00) Applying Working Genius at Work and Home
* Auditing how you spend your time reveals opportunities for meaningful change.
* Using your Working Genius outside of work can strengthen your family life.

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 to The Working Genius Podcast on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4iNz6Yn), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3raC053GF5mtkq6Y1klpRU), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/Working-Genius-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, 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.

Are Working Genius pairings linked with Ideal Team Player virtues?
In episode 103 of the Working Genius Podcast, Pat and Cody explore why Working Genius types cannot and should not be used to predict the three Ideal Team Player virtues (humble, hungry, and smart). They walk through tempting—but ultimately inaccurate—assumptions people often make when connecting specific geniuses to humility, hunger, or emotional intelligence. By clarifying the proper order of team building—hire for virtues first, then place people according to their geniuses—they’ll help you avoid costly misinterpretations and build healthier teams.

Topics explored in this episode:

(00:00) The Premise
* Why Ideal Team Player virtues must come before Working Genius when building a team.

(03:20) Exploring the “Smart” Virtue and EQ
* WG cannot predict emotional intelligence (EQ).
* How each working genius type can be either high or low EQ.

(08:23) Tempting but Incorrect Correlations Between Virtues and Genius Types
* The common assumptions that “D” = smart, “E” = humble, and “T” = hungry.

(15:55) Virtues → Genius → Behaviors
* Why Ideal Team Player, Working Genius, and Five Dysfunctions must be applied in order.

More info about Pat’s book, The Ideal Team Player: How to Recognize and Cultivate the Three Essential Virtues: https://www.tablegroup.com/product/ideal-team-player/

More info about Pat’s book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable: https://www.tablegroup.com/topics-and-resources/teamwork-5-dysfunctions/#5dbook

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 to The Working Genius Podcast on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4iNz6Yn), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3raC053GF5mtkq6Y1klpRU), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/Working-Genius-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, 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.

Is there a correlation between a person’s Working Genius (WG) pairings and their emotional intelligence (EQ)? Also, how can you use your Working Genius results to strengthen your emotional intelligence?
In episode 102 of the Working Genius Podcast, Pat and Cody explore how Working Genius and emotional intelligence intersect, and where they don’t. They explain that while no Working Genius type predicts EQ, the Working Genius model is a powerful tool for developing the self-awareness and social awareness that foster emotional intelligence.

Topics explored in this episode:

(02:27) Is There a Link Between Genius Types and EQ?
* Pat clarifies that Working Genius and EQ are independent, emphasizing that self-awareness (not wiring) drives emotional intelligence.

(05:29) Self-Awareness, Rough Edges, and Workplace Behavior
* How understanding your working frustrations increases EQ.
* How low self-awareness manifests in everyday interactions.

(11:14) Social Awareness, Curiosity, and Understanding Others
* Why EQ requires not only self-awareness but also a genuine desire to understand others.
* Connecting curiosity to humility and vulnerability, noting how Working Genius accelerates relational understanding.

(17:35) Building Relational EQ
* How to lovingly offer feedback that raises another person’s emotional intelligence.
* How self-awareness and understanding others—not your Genius letters—are what transform your effectiveness and relationships.

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 to The Working Genius Podcast on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4iNz6Yn), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3raC053GF5mtkq6Y1klpRU), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/Working-Genius-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, 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 might a layoff create space for you to pursue work that energizes you rather than drains you?
In episode 101 of the Working Genius Podcast, Pat and Cody explore why layoffs—while often painful—can become pivotal moments of clarity and reinvention. They also explain how the Working Genius framework provides a roadmap for choosing future roles that offer joy, energy, and long-term career sustainability.
Topics explored in this episode:

(02:20) What Layoffs Reveal About Misaligned Work
* How many people fall into roles based on majors, circumstance, or convenience—not joy and energy.
* How Working Genius uncovers transferable strengths that open doors.

(04:59) Rethinking Identity and Job Descriptions
* How job descriptions often fail to capture the actual genius needed for success.
* Employees who thrived after shifting roles, including a lawyer who moved into a technology leadership role using his Genius.

(07:50) Why Most People Aren’t Working in Their Genius
* How few people truly operate within their strengths.
* The value of cultural fit, personal interests, and joy—not just salary—when choosing a new role.

(14:54) Life Changes and the Power of a Reset
* How life transitions and financial considerations can open unexpected possibilities for better-fit work.

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 to The Working Genius Podcast on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4iNz6Yn), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3raC053GF5mtkq6Y1klpRU), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/Working-Genius-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, 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