What creative analogies can you use to help understand your joy and frustration at work?

In episode 95 of the Working Genius Podcast, Patrick and Cody revisit one of their earliest metaphors for the Six Types of Working Genius model: the coffee cup analogy. They explore how it explains joy, competency, and frustration in work—and why new analogies like batteries, bikes, and even shoes can add nuance to the conversation. Along the way, they highlight how interest, energy, and preference intersect with genius.

Topics explored in this episode:

(3:42) Battery Analogies

* How genius can feel like charging a phone.

* Whether constant genius work is healthy or limiting.

(7:30) Bike Riding Analogies

* Cody introduces the uphill, flat, and downhill bike comparison.

* Pat adds how electric bikes recharge, mirroring the energy of genius.

(9:44) Analogies About Shoes and Household Chores

* The difference between genius and personal likes/dislikes.

(15:06) The Lunch Analogy

* How interest or disinterest in particular subjects or meals shape our energy.

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://spoti.fi/4iGGm8u), 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://spoti.fi/4l1aop0), 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.

How can the Working Genius model prevent decision-making confusion?

In episode 94 of the Working Genius Podcast, Pat, Cody, and guest Krista Kotrla unpack the concept of “crossing the decision line,” exploring how leaders can move from healthy conflict to clear commitments, avoiding the trap of endless discernment and re-decision. Through practical tools like end-of-meeting discipline, clarity over certainty, and understanding the nuances of galvanizing, they discuss how to drive alignment, commitment, and faster execution.

Krista Kotrla is a consultant with The Table Group who helps leaders turn healthy conflict into clear commitments.

Topics explored in this episode:

* 00:00 – Defining the Decision Line

* 06:50 – Decision Science vs. Implementation Science

* 09:41 – Linking the Decision Line to the Five Dysfunctions

* 13:44 – Galvanizing and Communication After Decisions

* 16:35 – Real-World Example of Clarity Over Consensus

* 21:33 – The Power of Clarity in Leadership

Thanks to Krista Kotrla for being on the show!

Visit: https://kristakotrla.com/

Connect with Krista on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristakotrla

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://spoti.fi/4iGGm8u), 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://spoti.fi/4l1aop0), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/At-The-Table-YouTube).

Let us know your feedback via

What makes galvanizing more disruptive than other Working Geniuses?

In episode 93 of the Working Genius Podcast, Pat and Cody explore why galvanizing is the most disruptive of all the Working Geniuses. They unpack the nature of galvanizing as the only Genius that necessarily involves moving others, making it uniquely powerful—and often misunderstood. Through stories and reflection, they highlight the challenges and the essential value of galvanizers in any team or organization.

Topics explored in this episode:

(0:40) Why Galvanizing Disrupts by Nature

* Unlike other Geniuses, galvanizing cannot happen in isolation—it always affects others.

(4:33) Galvanizing

* People with galvanizing as a frustration often avoid rallying others or making requests.

* Teams without galvanizers struggle to gain momentum.

(7:25) Real-Life Galvanizing

* Cody shares a college story of galvanizing classmates.

* Even unpopular actions can be valuable when driven by a galvanizing instinct.

(11:14) Galvanizing Paired with Other Geniuses

* Adding G to any Genius makes the combination more action-oriented.

* Certain Genius pairings, like IG or GT, can help breakthrough change.

(15:03) Leading and Conviction

* Sometimes conviction or leadership can be mistaken for galvanizing.

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://www.workinggenius.com/about/assessment

Subscribe to The Working Genius Podcast on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4iNz6Yn), Spotify (https://spoti.fi/4iGGm8u), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/Working-Genius-YouTube).

Follow Pat Lencioni on https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-lencioni-orghealth and 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://spoti.fi/4l1aop0), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/At-The-Table-YouTube).

Let us know your feedback via