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

265. Miserable Employees

At the Table with Patrick Lencioni
Show Details

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.

Popular Podcasts

Related Links

All Episodes

Episode 265podcast microphone image
03/31/2026

Miserable Employees

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 Everywhere Cody 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 Advice Pat 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 Someone Pat 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 & Closing Pat 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 @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.

Read More⟶
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.

Read More⟶
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.

Read More⟶
Episode 262podcast microphone image
02/17/2026

Be an Extremist

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.

Read More⟶
Episode 261podcast microphone image
02/03/2026

Think Like A Six-Year-Old

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

Read More⟶