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At The Table with Patrick Lencioni

At The Table with Patrick Lencioni

Written by: Patrick Lencioni
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Real conversations and practical advice for everyday leaders. 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 teamwork to building world-class organizations, Pat brings his wisdom, humor, and insight together to provide actionable advice for leaders everywhere. For more on Pat and the Table Group, visit https://www.tablegroup.comCopyright 2026 Patrick Lencioni Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • 279. Utopia Is A Myth

    279. Utopia Is A Myth
    Oct 13 2026
    How can you pursue excellence without becoming discouraged by imperfection?Organizational health does not mean eliminating conflict, dysfunction, or difficult seasons forever. In episode 279 of At The Table, Pat Lencioni and Cody Thompson explain why leaders need to replace the pursuit of organizational perfection with resilience, learning to expect downturns while continuing to move toward greater health. When things get messy, the answer is not despair, but returning to what is true, recommitting to core principles, and getting incrementally better.Topics explored in this episode:(00:00) The Myth of the Perfect OrganizationPat explains why organizational health should never be confused with creating a perfect company, team, or family.The pursuit of utopia can distort expectations and cause leaders to see normal struggles as evidence that something has gone fundamentally wrong.(02:56) When Healthy Organizations Get MessyPat and Cody discuss the danger of believing an organization will eventually eliminate politics, silos, conflict, and other problems forever.They argue that organizational health is better understood as resilience: the ability to work through inevitable problems instead of being defeated by them.(06:02) Progress Is Not a Straight LinePat acknowledges that even after 29 years of focusing on organizational health, The Table Group still experiences real problems and difficult periods.Cody describes organizational progress as a jagged line moving upward, where temporary downturns can look disastrous until leaders zoom out and see the larger trajectory.(09:31) The Danger of Expecting PerfectionCody explains how unrealistic expectations can turn temporary difficulties into damaging conclusions such as believing you are a bad leader or your company will fail.Pat argues that leaders should continue striving to improve while simultaneously accepting that perfection will never actually be reached.(12:42) Tomorrow Is a New DayPat and Cody encourage leaders and parents to return to what they know is true, recommit to their values, and begin again after difficult days.Growth never really ends, and progress comes from accepting imperfection while continuing to learn, change, and get incrementally better.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 @PatrickLencioniOfficialStay Connected with Patrick LencioniLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-lencioni-orghealthInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/patricklencioniofficialTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@patricklencioniofficialX: https://x.com/patricklencioniAt The Table with Patrick LencioniApple: https://tablegroup.me/appleSpotify: https://tablegroup.me/sptfyYouTube: https://tablegroup.me/youtubeBe 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 podcast@tablegroup.com.This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.
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    15 mins
  • 278. The Horse That Isn't Dead Yet (Are You Serious)

    278. The Horse That Isn't Dead Yet (Are You Serious)
    Sep 29 2026
    Are you treating teamwork as a real competitive advantage or simply something your company says it values?In episode 278 of At The Table, Patrick Lencioni and Cody Thompson revisit the debate over remote work, arguing that there is an important distinction between hiring genuinely remote employees, offering reasonable flexibility, and allowing local teammates to avoid working together. They challenge leaders to consider whether policies built primarily around convenience are undermining trust, culture, productivity, and the competitive advantages that come from real human interaction. Ultimately, the episode asks leaders and employees to answer a more fundamental question: are they serious enough about their work and their teammates to prioritize being together when they can?Topics explored in this episode: (00:00) The Horse Still Isn’t DeadPat argues that teamwork requires people to actually know one another and spend meaningful time together.Pat and Cody introduce the recurring remote-work debate and distinguish local work-from-home arrangements from truly remote employment.(03:16) When Work Becomes “Unserious”Cody explains why allowing nearby employees to avoid the office can feel inconsistent with a company that claims to prioritize excellence and teamwork.They imagine comparing colocated and remote teams not only on productivity, but also on loyalty, relationships, health, and culture.(06:07) Teamwork Requires InteractionPat compares workplace teams to sports teams, arguing that individuals cannot simply practice alone and expect the same team dynamics.They discuss practical flexibility while maintaining that regular interaction is essential when people have the ability to work together.(09:14) Convenience Versus Competitive AdvantagePat connects employees’ attitudes toward coming to work with the idea of hunger and commitment while cautioning leaders against enabling habits that weaken the team.Cody argues that trust, healthy conflict, culture, teamwork, and organizational health are all more difficult to develop when convenience consistently takes priority.(11:46) Are You Serious?Pat reframes the episode’s central question around whether people are genuinely serious about the work they are doing, comparing unnecessary remote work to taking an online class while already living on a college campus.Pat and Cody close by encouraging organizations to maintain flexibility and hire remotely when necessary while choosing to work together whenever circumstances make it possible.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 @PatrickLencioniOfficialStay Connected with Patrick LencioniLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-lencioni-orghealthInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/patricklencioniofficialTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@patricklencioniofficialX: https://x.com/patricklencioniAt The Table with Patrick LencioniApple: 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 podcast@tablegroup.com. This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.
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    15 mins
  • 277. The Heart of Accountability

    277. The Heart of Accountability
    Sep 15 2026
    Are you avoiding a difficult conversation because you care about someone, or because you are protecting yourself?In episode 277 of At The Table, Pat Lencioni and Cody Thompson explore why accountability is consistently one of the hardest behaviors for teams and argue that avoiding difficult feedback is often selfishness disguised as compassion. They explain that real accountability comes from caring enough about another person to tell the truth, even when doing so risks discomfort, frustration, or temporary rejection. They also discuss the importance of trust, timing, leadership modeling, and practicing accountability until hard conversations become a normal part of a healthy team.Topics explored in this episode: (00:00) Why Accountability Is an Act of LovePat argues that avoiding difficult feedback is often selfishness disguised as compassion because it protects the person giving the feedback rather than helping the person who needs it.Pat and Cody introduce the idea that genuine accountability requires caring enough about someone to risk discomfort, rejection, or an unpleasant reaction.(04:39) Accountability Is More Than ConsequencesCody connects accountability to parenting and explains why loving someone sometimes requires doing something they may not appreciate in the moment.Pat and Cody distinguish real accountability from simply punishing poor performance, explaining why leaders should address problems before they reach the point of firing or other consequences.(09:43) Loving Someone Enough to Tell the TruthCody explains why accountability is ultimately about helping another person improve, both for the good of the team and for their own development.Pat discusses the personal cost of leadership, including the willingness to be temporarily disliked, and describes a progression for addressing problems directly before escalating them.(14:32) Trust, Timing, and Knowing When to SpeakPat and Cody explore the role of vulnerability-based trust in making difficult conversations possible and discuss circumstances when someone may genuinely not be ready to receive feedback.They explain why leaders should normally lean toward having the conversation while also recognizing that restraint and thoughtful timing can sometimes be the more loving choice.(19:12) Run Toward the RedPat encourages leaders to examine their intentions, accept the inherent messiness of accountability, and move toward uncomfortable issues instead of avoiding them.Cody explains how consistently modeling accountability can create a culture of peer-to-peer accountability, before Pat challenges listeners to identify a conversation they have been avoiding and consider having it.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 @PatrickLencioniOfficialStay Connected with Patrick LencioniLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-lencioni-orghealthInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/patricklencioniofficialTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@patricklencioniofficialX: https://x.com/patricklencioniAt The Table with Patrick LencioniApple: 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 podcast@tablegroup.com. This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.
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    23 mins
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