Skip to main content
Receive the latest insights from Pat and The Table Group

At the Table with Patrick Lencioni

 Tablegroup Video Placeholder  Tablegroup Video Placeholder

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Life changing content, week after week.
At the Table Listener

Listen to the Latest Episode

264. Give It Up

At the Table with Patrick Lencioni

About At The Table

Sit across the table from one of the foremost experts in leadership and business. In his simple and approachable style, Pat tackles every topic related to the world of work (and some that aren’t). From culture to family to building world-class organizations, Pat brings his wisdom, humor, and insight together to provide actionable advice for leaders everywhere.

All Episodes

Episode 264podcast microphone image
03/17/2026

Give It Up

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 Subtraction Patrick 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 Way Patrick 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 Behavior Patrick 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 Conflict Patrick 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 @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 At The Table with Patrick Lencioni Apple: https://apple.co/4hJKKSL Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4l1aop0 YouTube: 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 [email protected]. This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.

Episode 264podcast microphone image
03/17/2026

Give It Up

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 Subtraction Patrick 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 Way Patrick 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 Behavior Patrick 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 Conflict Patrick 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 @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 At The Table with Patrick Lencioni Apple: https://apple.co/4hJKKSL Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4l1aop0 YouTube: 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 [email protected]. This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.

Episode 264podcast microphone image
03/17/2026

Give It Up

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 Subtraction Patrick 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 Way Patrick 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 Behavior Patrick 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 Conflict Patrick 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 @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 At The Table with Patrick Lencioni Apple: https://apple.co/4hJKKSL Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4l1aop0 YouTube: 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 [email protected]. This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.

Episode 263podcast microphone image
03/03/2026

Short Range Strategy

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 [email protected]. This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.

Episode 263podcast microphone image
03/03/2026

Short Range Strategy

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 [email protected]. This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.