How can you design an offsite that your team actually values? Most offsites fail because they are either too loose to be productive or too rigid to be meaningful. In episode 268 of At The Table, Patrick Lencioni and Cody break down what made their most recent offsite the best in decades. They reveal why the right mix of structure, vulnerability, and flexibility can transform an offsite into a powerful catalyst for alignment and trust. Topics explored in this episode: (00:03) Why Offsites Get a B...
May 12, 2026•30 min•Ep. 268
How can you tell if your company has a strong culture or just generic values? Most companies don’t struggle with being cult-like; they struggle with having any real culture at all. In this episode, Patrick Lencioni and Cody Thompson break down the critical differences between strong cultures and actual cult behavior, highlighting why clarity and conviction matter. You’ll learn why great organizations embrace distinct values, even if it means not being the right fit for everyone. Topics explored ...
Apr 28, 2026•27 min•Ep. 267
How do you know if someone truly belongs on your team? In episode 266 of At The Table, Patrick Lencioni and Cody Thompson review the surprising origin of The Ideal Team Player and why its simple framework continues to resonate years later. You’ll learn how the combination of humility, hunger, and smarts defines great team members—and what happens when one is missing. You’ll walk away with practical ways to hire better, develop your people, and build a stronger, healthier team culture. Topics exp...
Apr 14, 2026•41 min•Ep. 266
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...
Mar 31, 2026•30 min•Ep. 265
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,” ...
Mar 17, 2026•21 min•Ep. 264
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 h...
Mar 03, 2026•17 min•Ep. 263
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 lik...
Feb 17, 2026•18 min•Ep. 262
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, a...
Feb 03, 2026•23 min•Ep. 261
Are you creating a workplace environment that feels like a cage or a park? In episode 260 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, a...
Jan 20, 2026•19 min•Ep. 260
If you’re achieving at a high level while ignoring the health of your inner life, how can you reset? In episode 259 of At The Table, Pat and Cody explore why high achievement can be a warning sign rather than a badge of honor. They explain how leaders often use success to compensate for fear, insecurity, or unresolved personal issues. The conversation underscores that true leadership effectiveness begins with inner health long before it shows up in organizational results. Topics explored in this...
Jan 06, 2026•19 min•Ep. 259
Why does recommitting to trust matter more than recommitting to strategy? Episode 258 of At The Table episode explores the moments when teams and relationships reach a breaking point—where everything could unravel or deepen. Pat and Cody reflect on their own recent off-site, sharing how choosing vulnerability and recommitment led them to greater unity, clarity, and trust. They argue that the “messy” work of recommitting isn’t soft; it’s the most essential and transformative part of leadership. T...
Dec 23, 2025•19 min•Ep. 258
Do you sometimes over-rely on data to cover yourself instead of trusting your judgment? Episode 257 of At The Table explores why leaders often cling to data, certainty, and predictability—even though business is inherently messy. Pat and Cody discuss how fear of failure drives over-analysis, slowing decisions and weakening judgment. Ultimately, they argue that great leadership is an art fueled by instinct, courage, and human interaction—not algorithms or metrics. Topics explored in this episode:...
Dec 09, 2025•16 min•Ep. 257
How does working in a “toxic” culture affect your ability to perform and trust others? Also, if your organization has an unhealthy work environment, how can leaders begin the process of internal correction? In episode 256 of At The Table, Pat Lencioni and Cody Thompson unpack what “toxic culture” really means—and what it doesn’t. They explore how toxicity rarely starts at the bottom but usually traces back to the executive team’s dysfunction, lack of clarity, or tolerance for poor behavior. They...
Nov 25, 2025•22 min•Ep. 256
What happens when innovation outpaces our moral compass? In episode 255 of At The Table, Patrick and Cody wrestle with the tension between technological innovation and human dignity in the workplace. As artificial intelligence reshapes industries, they ask whether efficiency has become more important than humanity. This episode invites leaders and consumers alike to seek a moral “true north”—one that values people over profit and connection over convenience. Topics explored in this episode: (02:...
Nov 11, 2025•25 min•Ep. 255
Have your remote teams been unknowingly breeding politics through silence and distance? In episode 254 of At The Table, Pat and Cody explore how remote work can unintentionally foster politics and erode trust within teams. They unpack why virtual communication creates space for misunderstanding and suspicion—even among well-intentioned people. They also offer practical advice for building connections, restoring trust, and maintaining healthy team dynamics across distance. Topics explored in this...
Oct 28, 2025•18 min•Ep. 254
Are you unintentionally eroding trust by avoiding hard conversations? Also, what happens to your team when trust goes unexercised? In episode 253 of At The Table, Patrick Lencioni and Cody Thompson unpack why trust isn’t something to simply build and preserve—it must be used, stretched, and tested to grow stronger. They explore how leaders unintentionally erode trust by avoiding honest curiosity, mistaking it for suspicion. Topics explored in this episode: (00:00) Curiosity vs. Suspicion * How s...
Oct 14, 2025•19 min•Ep. 253
What happens to a culture when leaders ignore problems? In episode 252 of At The Table, Patrick and Cody explore the leadership principle of running toward the fire. They discuss why leaders often ignore the “smoke” of personnel or cultural issues, hoping problems will resolve themselves. Instead, they argue that credibility, trust, and organizational health are built when leaders courageously confront issues before they spread. Topics explored in this episode: 00:35 – Seeing Smoke * Leaders set...
Sep 30, 2025•15 min•Ep. 252
In what ways can the formula for change be useful for understanding both personal and organizational change? In episode 251 of At The Table, Patrick and Cody explore the so-called change equation, a simple yet powerful formula that explains why some change efforts succeed while others stall. Breaking it down into dissatisfaction, vision, and a first simple step—multiplied together—they show how these elements must outweigh resistance for change to occur. Topics explored in this episode: 0:55 – T...
Sep 16, 2025•22 min•Ep. 251
How would your workplace culture change if love and service were driving forces? In episode 250 of At The Table, Pat and Cody introduce the concepts of BaaM (Business as a Ministry) and WaaM (Work as a Ministry). They explore how viewing business and work through the lens of service and love can create healthier workplaces and stronger organizations. Whether you’re leading a public company or managing a small team, this conversation will invite how you think about purpose, culture, and results. ...
Sep 02, 2025•19 min•Ep. 250
How can you create a workforce of hungry people who aren't trying to prove their worth by the number of hours they work? And how can you help your coworkers build a sense of ownership and passion around their work? In episode 249 of At The Table, Pat and Cody explore why “hunger wins” when it comes to building competitive, effective teams. They challenge the misconception that long hours translate to productivity. They also reveal how to create sustainable competitiveness that inspires people to...
Aug 19, 2025•18 min•Ep. 249
How can leaders resist the ego-inflation that comes with praise and status? In episode 248 of At The Table, Pat and Cody reflect on the viral Coldplay kiss cam scandal—not to sensationalize it, but to draw important leadership lessons from it. They explore the dangers of ego, power, and isolation for leaders, particularly those who fail to stay grounded in their home life and faith. Topics explored in this episode: (0:56) When Praise Becomes Poison * Why the Coldplay incident is more than just c...
Aug 05, 2025•31 min•Ep. 248
Why might being “cool” make someone a dangerous person to work for? And why are some of the greatest leaders uncool? In episode 247 of At The Table, Pat and Cody challenge the cultural obsession with being “cool” and examine how it can corrupt leadership. Using a global study that defined six traits of coolness—especially “powerful” and “hedonistic”—they reveal how these values run counter to responsible leadership. Through stories, examples, and hard truths, they make the case that great leader...
Jul 22, 2025•20 min•Ep. 247
How does the broader culture of your location influence your organization’s internal culture? In episode 246 of At The Table, Patrick Lencioni and Cody Thompson explore how meta-culture—the broader geographic or societal environment—shapes the internal culture of organizations. From experiences at the DMV to moving company headquarters, they share insights on how values interact with location. Topics explored in this episode: (2:44) Organizational Culture Exists Within a Larger Culture * The mac...
Jul 08, 2025•15 min•Ep. 246
What are some universal traits of successful leaders that any leader in any field can emulate? In episode 245 of At The Table, Patrick Lencioni and Cody Thompson reflect on a remarkable leader they consider one of the greatest CEOs they’ve encountered—Tony Mazzella of Mazzella Companies. Tony’s approach to leadership is rooted in humility, deep responsibility, and a relentless desire to learn, all without seeking fame or recognition. This conversation breaks down the traits that make a truly gre...
Jun 24, 2025•17 min•Ep. 245
Are you missing out on innovation because you're avoiding discomfort? How can you embrace the tension that's required for innovation? In episode 244 of At The Table, Patrick Lencioni and Cody Thompson explore the crucial link between tension and innovation. They argue that real creativity requires discomfort—whether from interpersonal friction or environmental urgency. Through personal stories and business examples, they offer practical ways to embrace conflict and drive change before crisis str...
Jun 10, 2025•24 min•Ep. 244
Why do so many successful leaders struggle with the feeling of "not being enough"? And how can leaders shift away from a scarcity mindset? In episode 243 of At The Table, Patrick Lencioni and Cody Thompson explore the pervasive feeling of inadequacy among leaders. They discuss how a "not enough" mindset can drive individuals to seek validation through constant achievement. The conversation emphasizes the importance of vulnerability, self-awareness, and shifting from a fear-based to a joy-based a...
May 27, 2025•23 min•Ep. 243
How do we as business leaders not be discouraged by hard times and instead see the good that can result from them? In episode 242 of At The Table, Patrick Lencioni welcomes legendary financial expert and leadership voice Dave Ramsey for an unfiltered conversation about hard times. As Pat mentions in the intro, this is not your average interview. They discuss the current economic and cultural moment, explore the importance of values-based leadership, and call out the failures of transactional min...
May 13, 2025•36 min•Ep. 242
What happens when the external validation of your success conflicts with your internal values and purpose? In episode 241 of At The Table, Pat Lencioni and Cody Thompson explore the hidden dangers of traditional success metrics. They also discuss how businesses and individuals can lose their way when they chase recognition that doesn’t align with their original purpose. Topics explored in this episode: (0:40) The Michelin Star Story * How a small restaurant in Italy gave up its Michelin star to ...
Apr 29, 2025•20 min•Ep. 241
Why is it so difficult to reform government inefficiencies? And what can organizations and households learn from eliminating waste in large, public institutions? In episode #240 of At The Table, Pat and Cody explore the concept of government efficiency through the lens of organizational health. Drawing comparisons between the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the federal government, and dysfunctional teams, they highlight the painful necessity of accountability and cutting waste. Topic...
Apr 15, 2025•32 min•Ep. 240
How can we start to address unresolved challenges in our lives that impact people profoundly and sometimes in painful ways? In this episode, Patrick Lencioni and Cody Thompson discuss the podcast's return after a six-month break, and a shift in content to include broader societal and cultural issues. Pat also shares his personal journey of self-discovery, focusing on addressing his own wounds and trauma, and explores how this deeply personal work relates to leadership and organizational health. ...
Apr 01, 2025•23 min•Ep. 239
