What happens when we misunderstand or mistype someone’s Working Genius? Also, what changes when we finally understand the true genius behind someone’s behavior?

In episode 100 of the Working Genius Podcast, Pat and Cody explore why an incorrectly identified Working Genius can create frustration, friction, and confusion among teammates. They also dive into factors that often lead to mistyping, and how understanding true genius unlocks better collaboration and more joy.

Topics explored in this episode:

(03:00) When the Wrong Genius Causes Friction

* How teams can inadvertently push people into the wrong types of work.

* Metaphors—like ice cream and lactose intolerance—to illustrate the mismatch.

(06:25) The Nuances Behind Misinterpreting Behaviors

* Examples of people misinterpreting public speaking as galvanizing.

* How different geniuses can look similar on the surface but feel different internally.

(09:22) Why Some Geniuses Are Commonly Mistyped

* Why Wonder and Enablement are often misunderstood.

* How environment and personal bias influence self-typing.

(13:39) Consequences of Selling the Wrong Genius

* Why advertising a genius you don’t have creates false expectations.

* The importance of accurate self-awareness.

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

How does being an Inventor-Discerner shape your leadership style when guiding a team?

In episode 99 of the Working Genius Podcast, In this episode, Pat Lencioni and Cody Thompson welcome master facilitator Claire Laughlin to unpack the unique strengths and quirks of the Inventor-Discerner (ID) pairing. Together, they explore how people with this Working Genius pairing constantly generate, refine, and iterate ideas in real time.

Claire Laughlin is a dynamic trainer and coach who helps teams communicate better and lead with purpose. As one of The Table Group’s master facilitators, she teaches the Working Genius model to leaders and organizations worldwide.

Topics explored in this episode:

(00:30) The Joy of Being an Inventor-Discerner

* Claire shares how her brain instantly starts creating when pressure subsides.

(05:00) The ID Loop in Action

* How invention and discernment happen almost simultaneously.

(09:00) How IDs Annoy and Delight Others

* How an ID’s confidence and quick thinking can overwhelm teammates.

(14:00) Feeding Creativity

* How IDs can stay connected to wonder instead of jumping straight to ideas.

* How curiosity and real-world problems can ignite your genius.

(21:00) Living the Working Genius Every Day

* How Claire uses Working Genius to solve team problems.

Thanks to Claire Laughlin for being on the show!

Learn more about Claire: https://www.clairelaughlin.com

Connect with Claire on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairelaughlin/

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 (

How can you genuinely honor someone's working frustrations, beyond just being aware of them?

In episode 98 of the Working Genius Podcast, Patrick and Cody explore the idea of honoring working frustrations—the tasks that drain energy, even when you’re good at them. Using team member Tracy Noble as a case study, they discuss how competence without joy leads to burnout and how leaders can reorganize work to restore energy and dignity.

Topics explored in this episode:

(01:00) The Cost of Competence

* The danger of confusing skill with joy and how it drains energy over time.

(03:20) Understanding What Drains Us

* How some people excel at things they dislike, leading to burnout.

* Recognizing frustration is an act of respect, not weakness.

(06:00) Team Reorganization

* How team roles at The Table Group were restructured to align with genius types.

(09:00) Redefining Productivity and Human Dignity

* How long-term effectiveness outweighs short-term efficiency.

* Honoring frustrations is essential to dignity and joy in work.

(13:20) Applying Working Genius to Real Roles

* Cody shares practical ways to match people’s genius with job requirements.

* Pat reflects on his own burnout and how awareness of frustration fosters empathy.

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 podcast@tablegroup.com.

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