258. The Fruits of Recommitment

More from At The Table with Patrick Lencioni All episodes →

1. 

   E263 · 3 Mar 2026 · 17 min

   263. Short Range Strategy

   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 health provide the stability needed to navigate constant change. Topics explored in this episode:…

2. 

   E262 · 17 Feb 2026 · 18 min

   262. Be Extreme

   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 like In-N-Out, Dutch Bros, Costco, and Nordstrom, they show how clarity and conviction create a…

3. 

   E261 · 3 Feb 2026 · 23 min

   261. Think Like A Six-Year-Old

   Are you making your work more complicated than it needs to be? In episode 261 of At The Table, Pat Lencioni and Cody Thompson explore why the ability to make something simple may be one of the clearest signs that someone truly understands it. They discuss how pride, expertise, and fear of looking uninformed can prevent leaders from asking basic questions and communicating ideas clearly. From consulting and organizational health to parenting and everyday life, Pat and Cody argue that the most important things are often simple, even when putting them into practice is incredibly hard. Topics…

4. 

   E260 · 20 Jan 2026 · 19 min

   260. Isolation vs. Connection

   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, and human flourishing. Topics explored in this episode: (01:23) The Cocaine Water Experiment * A…

5. 

   E259 · 6 Jan 2026 · 19 min

   259. Beware the High Achiever

   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 episode: (00:30) The Real Cost of High Achievement * High achievement often masks deeper personal…

6. 

   E257 · 9 Dec 2025 · 16 min

   257. The Art of Messiness

   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: (03:15) Data vs. Instinct in Real Business * Why instinct and common sense dominate real…

7. 

   E256 · 25 Nov 2025 · 22 min

   256. What is a Toxic Culture?

   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 also share the signs, causes, and antidotes of toxic workplaces, encouraging leaders to create…

8. 

   E255 · 11 Nov 2025 · 25 min

   255. Efficiency vs. Humanity

   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: (02:57) Innovation Without a True North * Concern that the rise of AI could fundamentally displace…

9. 

   E254 · 28 Oct 2025 · 18 min

   254. Virtual Politics

   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 episode: (00:00) Understanding Virtual Politics * How “virtual politics” can be thought of as the…

10. 

    E253 · 14 Oct 2025 · 19 min

    253. Trust Must Be Exercised

    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 simple questions like “What are you working on?” can build or break trust. * Why avoiding questions…