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At the Table with Patrick Lencioni

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273. First Impressions at Work

At the Table with Patrick Lencioni
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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.

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Episode 273podcast microphone image
07/21/2026

First Impressions at Work

Why can two people leave the same meeting with completely different understandings? A newcomer’s perspective reveals something experienced professionals often forget: work is far messier and less logical than it appears from the outside. In episode 273 of At The Table, Pat and Cody examine how fear, nonverbal communication, personality differences, and unspoken assumptions cause even healthy teams to misunderstand one another. They also explain how stronger meeting discipline, good intentions, and greater grace can help organizations navigate that messiness and move in the same direction. Topics explored in this episode: (00:00) A Newcomer’s View of Work Pat shares a surprising observation from his son Michael’s first summer working in an office environment. Michael notices that people can understand their jobs and speak the same language while still missing the deeper meaning behind one another’s words. (04:31) Why Alignment Is So Difficult Pat and Cody discuss why even successful companies are filled with the complications and misunderstandings that come with being human. Organizational health can become a significant competitive advantage, but getting everyone to row in the same direction requires more than frameworks and good intentions. (09:15) Fear and the Things People Do Not Say Electronic communication makes misunderstandings more likely, but even face-to-face conversations leave important meaning unspoken. Employees may withhold concerns because they fear appearing negative, losing relational capital, or being viewed as poor team players. (13:49) Building Clarity Before the Meeting Ends Teams can improve alignment by reviewing what they discussed, what they decided, and what needs to be communicated outside the room. Even disciplined teams should assume that some percentage of the apparent clarity in a meeting may be incomplete or misunderstood. (18:14) Grace, Good Intentions, and Healthy Organizations Personality differences can cause people to interpret the same words literally, generally, or metaphorically, creating frustration even among people who trust one another. Healthy organizations acknowledge the messiness of work while hiring humble, hungry, and smart people who can assume the best and work through misunderstandings. 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://tablegroup.me/apple Spotify: https://tablegroup.me/sptfy YouTube: https://tablegroup.me/youtube Be sure to check out our other podcast, The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni, on Apple Podcasts (https://workinggenius.me/apple), Spotify (https://workinggenius.me/sptfy), and YouTube (https://workinggenius.me/wgyt). Let us know your feedback via [email protected]. This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.

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Episode 273podcast microphone image
07/21/2026

First Impressions at Work

Why can two people leave the same meeting with completely different understandings? A newcomer’s perspective reveals something experienced professionals often forget: work is far messier and less logical than it appears from the outside. In episode 273 of At The Table, Pat and Cody examine how fear, nonverbal communication, personality differences, and unspoken assumptions cause even healthy teams to misunderstand one another. They also explain how stronger meeting discipline, good intentions, and greater grace can help organizations navigate that messiness and move in the same direction. Topics explored in this episode: (00:00) A Newcomer’s View of Work Pat shares a surprising observation from his son Michael’s first summer working in an office environment. Michael notices that people can understand their jobs and speak the same language while still missing the deeper meaning behind one another’s words. (04:31) Why Alignment Is So Difficult Pat and Cody discuss why even successful companies are filled with the complications and misunderstandings that come with being human. Organizational health can become a significant competitive advantage, but getting everyone to row in the same direction requires more than frameworks and good intentions. (09:15) Fear and the Things People Do Not Say Electronic communication makes misunderstandings more likely, but even face-to-face conversations leave important meaning unspoken. Employees may withhold concerns because they fear appearing negative, losing relational capital, or being viewed as poor team players. (13:49) Building Clarity Before the Meeting Ends Teams can improve alignment by reviewing what they discussed, what they decided, and what needs to be communicated outside the room. Even disciplined teams should assume that some percentage of the apparent clarity in a meeting may be incomplete or misunderstood. (18:14) Grace, Good Intentions, and Healthy Organizations Personality differences can cause people to interpret the same words literally, generally, or metaphorically, creating frustration even among people who trust one another. Healthy organizations acknowledge the messiness of work while hiring humble, hungry, and smart people who can assume the best and work through misunderstandings. 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://tablegroup.me/apple Spotify: https://tablegroup.me/sptfy YouTube: https://tablegroup.me/youtube Be sure to check out our other podcast, The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni, on Apple Podcasts (https://workinggenius.me/apple), Spotify (https://workinggenius.me/sptfy), and YouTube (https://workinggenius.me/wgyt). Let us know your feedback via [email protected]. This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.

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Episode 272podcast microphone image
07/07/2026

The Profit Problem

What happens when your business starts treating profit as the goal instead of the indicator? In episode 272 of At The Table, Pat and Cody challenge one of the most common assumptions in business: that maximizing profit should be the goal. They argue that profit is essential, but when leaders treat it as a company’s purpose, they risk harming customers, employees, products, and culture. Leaders are invited to decide what is enough, invest in what matters, and build organizations that create value beyond the bottom line. Topics explored in this episode: (00:00) The Assumption Behind Profit Pat introduces the problem with assuming that maximizing profit is the goal of business. Cody points out how natural that assumption feels, even for people who have never studied business formally. (03:00) Winning Without Running Up the Score Pat compares business to football, explaining that the goal is to win, not to score as many points as possible. Cody expands the analogy by explaining why eliminating competition can hurt innovation, customers, and the overall game. (07:27) Value Beyond the Spreadsheet Cody distinguishes between maximizing profit and creating value for customers, employees, and the broader organization. Pat explains why some business decisions, like giving away bread at a restaurant, may create long-term value even if they do not show up neatly on a spreadsheet. (10:29) The Damage of Extracting Too Much Pat describes how companies can burn goodwill with customers when they constantly squeeze them for more revenue. Cody and Pat discuss planned obsolescence, AI, and the danger of replacing human value with decisions driven only by financial gain. (15:48) Purpose, Ownership, and Enough Pat connects the conversation to The Advantage and the importance of knowing why a business exists. Pat and Cody explain how The Table Group has chosen longevity, peace, and a healthy work experience over chasing maximum growth and profit. This episode of At The Table 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. 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://tablegroup.me/apple Spotify: https://tablegroup.me/sptfy YouTube: https://tablegroup.me/youtube Be sure to check out our other podcast, The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni, on Apple Podcasts (https://workinggenius.me/apple), Spotify (https://workinggenius.me/sptfy), and YouTube (https://workinggenius.me/wgyt). Let us know your feedback via [email protected]. This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.

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Episode 271podcast microphone image
06/23/2026

Time, Risk, and Innovation

What would happen if your team was challenged to do something ridiculous on purpose? In episode 271 of At The Table, Pat, Cody, and Matthew share the story of a risky, creative experiment from The Table Group’s annual consulting conference in Franklin, Tennessee. After giving teams one hour and $400 to create something ridiculous, outlandish, and loosely connected to organizational health, they watched their consultants produce original songs, recognize an ideal team player, rent an eight-foot tree, and even paint The Table Group office. The conversation reveals how time constraints, trust, risk, and freedom can unlock creativity in ways that careful planning often cannot. Topics explored in this episode: (00:00) The Power Of Limited Time Pat introduces the idea that limiting time can actually increase innovation, creativity, and execution. Cody explains the purpose of The Table Group’s annual consulting conference and how the team wanted to create a short but meaningful offsite experience. (04:03) One Hour, $400, And A Ridiculous Challenge Pat and Cody describe the challenge: teams had one hour, $400, and a goal to create the most ridiculous, creative idea possible. They reflect on how quickly the consultants moved through the Working Genius process, from wonder and invention to discernment, galvanizing, enablement, and tenacity. (05:47) Recognizing An Ideal Team Player One team went to the hotel manager, taught the Ideal Team Player model, and asked her to identify someone on staff who embodied humble, hungry, and smart. The team honored the chosen employee with gifts, cake, and a standing ovation from the consultants. (08:03) Songs, Trees, And Creative Chaos Another team found a musician at a coffee shop and paid her to write and perform an original song about The Table Group in one hour. A different team rented an eight-foot tree as a callback to the “Plant Your Friggin Tree” episode and turned it into a memorable symbol of action and urgency. (13:25) The Office Painting Risk One team secretly entered The Table Group office and painted Matt’s podcast room red with references to the Five Dysfunctions, the Advantage model, and the Ideal Team Player. Pat, Cody, and Matt reflect on how the experiment proved that trust, risk, fun, and people-centered experiences can make business conversations more effective. 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. Register for “Why Your Spouse Acts That Way” here: workinggenius.com/marriage 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 Stay Connected with Cody Thompson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cody-thompson-a5918850. 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.

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Episode 270podcast microphone image
06/09/2026

The More Things Change…

Why does trust become even more important in a world shaped by AI? In episode 270 of At The Table, Patrick Lencioni, Cody Thompson, and Matthew Lencioni discuss how much the workplace has changed across generations, from voicemail lights and computer labs to AI and virtual work. While the tools, speed, and structure of work have changed dramatically, they argue that trust, teamwork, clarity, and healthy culture have not changed at all. As technology becomes more accessible and commoditized, the episode argues that organizational health may be a greater competitive advantage than ever. Topics explored in this episode: (00:00) Technology Changes, But Leadership Doesn’t Pat introduces the idea that the fundamentals of great relationships, teams, families, and organizations have not changed, even as technology has transformed work. Pat and Cody preview the episode’s core question: how much has work changed, and how much have leadership and organizational health stayed the same? (03:32) Remembering the Pre-Digital Workplace Pat describes starting work in 1987 with no email, no internet, no cell phones, and only a corded desk phone with a voicemail light. The conversation explores how slower communication, physical meetings, paper reports, and travel-heavy work shaped the way companies operated. (07:15) The Shift Into Computers, Email, and AI Cody reflects on his own early work experience with computer labs, Excel spreadsheets, landlines, and in-person college admissions fairs. Pat and Cody discuss how quickly technology has accelerated, especially as AI now allows people to do work that once required specialized technical knowledge. (11:21) Why Organizational Health Matters More Now Pat explains that dysfunction used to spread more slowly, but today, technology can magnify unhealthy behavior more quickly. The conversation turns to culture, trust, leadership, and teamwork as increasingly important differentiators in a world where products and information are easier to copy. (16:06) The Future Hunger for Human Connection Cody and Pat discuss how trust, nonverbal communication, healthy conflict, and interpersonal connection remain essential even in a virtual and technology-driven workplace. Matthew Lencioni joins the conversation to share his perspective on work, generational differences, and why in-person connection still matters. 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. Register for “Why Your Spouse Acts That Way” here: workinggenius.com/marriage 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 Stay Connected with Cody Thompson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cody-thompson-a5918850. 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.

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