Episode notes
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 Bad Reputation Offsites often fail because they mix too many meeting types into one session. Many…
Chapters
Tap a chapter to play from there.
At The Table with Patrick Lencioni
by Patrick Lencioni · English · Business
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…
More from At The Table with Patrick Lencioni
-
E271 · 23 Jun 2026 · 21 min
271. 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,…
-
E270 · 9 Jun 2026 · 22 min
270. 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…
-
E269 · 26 May 2026 · 20 min
269. I Assumed You Remembered
What important message have you stopped repeating because you assumed people already knew it? In episode 269 of At The Table, Patrick Lencioni and Cody Thompson make the case that people need reminders more than they need brand-new information. They explain why leaders often undercommunicate the most important things: they are afraid of sounding repetitive, annoying, or insulting. Through examples from work, church, family, and everyday life, they challenge listeners to stop assuming people remember and start repeating what matters. Topics explored in this episode: (00:00) Why Reminders…
-
E267 · 28 Apr 2026 · 27 min
267. Cults vs Cultures
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 in this episode: (00:00:00) Defining Culture vs. Cult Culture is built on shared beliefs, customs,…
-
E266 · 14 Apr 2026 · 41 min
266. The Book That Almost Wasn't
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 explored in this episode: (00:02:23) Origins of Humble, Hungry, Smart Pat explains how the three…
-
E265 · 31 Mar 2026 · 30 min
265. Miserable Employees
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, they emphasize that making employees feel known, valued, and empowered to measure success…
-
E278 · 29 Sep 2026 · 15 min
278. The Horse That Isn't Dead Yet (Are You Serious)
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.…
-
E277 · 15 Sep 2026 · 23 min
277. The Heart of Accountability
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,…
-
E276 · 1 Sep 2026 · 21 min
276. Your Team Needs More Workplace Drama
Are Your Meetings Too Comfortable? Workplace drama has a bad reputation, but in episode 276 of At The Table, Pat Lencioni and Cody Thompson argue that genuine drama is often exactly what healthy organizations need. When teams allow real emotions, disagreements, fears, and convictions into the room, they can address difficult issues instead of letting them quietly grow. The challenge for leaders is learning to distinguish healthy drama from manufactured melodrama and then creating an environment where people can say what really needs to be said. Topics explored in this episode: (00:00) Why…
-
E275 · 18 Aug 2026 · 18 min
275. Where Do You Really Work?
Where do you actually do your best and most important work? Work does not always happen where, when, or how people expect it to happen. In episode 275 of At The Table, Pat Lencioni and Cody Thompson explore why thinking, brainstorming, reflecting, and solving problems should count just as much as the visible activity people typically associate with productivity. They challenge leaders to create cultures that measure people by meaningful contribution and results rather than how busy they appear at their desks. Topics explored in this episode: (00:00) Where Does Work Really Happen? Pat…
Take it with you
The Melo app keeps playing with the screen off, works in the car and on your watch, wakes you to your station, and browses the whole catalogue offline. Free, no ads, no account.
