How much trust could be built if managers were honest about their own working frustrations?

In episode 116 of the Working Genius Podcast, Patrick Lencioni and Cody Thompson share five practical tips for managers who want to use Working Genius with their employees in a meaningful way. They explain why managers should begin by listening, helping employees process their own results, and creating a safe space for conversations about geniuses, frustrations, and job fit. The episode shows how a simple Working Genius conversation can build trust, improve management, and help teams work with more clarity, energy, and effectiveness.

Topics explored in this episode:

(00:00) Why Working Genius Helps Employees Feel Seen

• Patrick explains that when managers listen to employees describe their Working Genius results, employees often feel deeply known and understood.
• Cody introduces the episode’s focus: five practical tips for managers who want to make Working Genius more useful in real conversations.

(01:55) Let Employees Digest and Describe Their Results

• Patrick says managers should first give employees 15 to 20 minutes to read and absorb their Working Genius report before discussing it.
• The first step is to let employees go first by describing what resonates, what surprised them, and how they understand their own geniuses and frustrations.

(06:02) Build Trust Through Frustrations and Job Implications

• Patrick and Cody explain how talking about working frustrations can create vulnerability without making employees feel defective or criticized.
• They encourage managers to ask how the employee’s results show up in their actual work, including projects that energized them or drained them.

(10:41) Use Working Genius to Create the Right Context

• Patrick explains that Working Genius does not need to feel like pigeonholing because employees often want to be understood and placed in the right role.
• Managers can deepen trust by sharing their own Working Genius results and inviting employees to reflect on how those geniuses and frustrations show up in the manager’s leadership.

(15:03) Brainstorm Adjustments and Keep the Conversation Going

• Patrick encourages managers and employees to brainstorm how the employee can lean more into their geniuses and reduce unnecessary frustration.
• Cody and Patrick emphasize the importance of follow-up conversations so Working Genius becomes an ongoing vocabulary for teamwork rather than a one-time assessment.

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

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The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni

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This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.