The world tells leaders they must be everything: visionary, innovator, operator, executor. Patrick Lencioni tried, but it nearly crushed him. He wasn’t exhausted from effort; he was exhausted from misalignment. He discovered what most high performers never admit: trying to be everything is the fastest path to burnout. That insight became The Six Types of Working Genius, a simple framework reshaping how teams work by aligning people with the work that gives them energy. In this episode, Patrick joins Ilana to break down the Six Types of Working Genius and show how aligning your strengths can transform your career, your team, and your fulfillment at work.

Patrick Lencioni is a bestselling author and organizational health expert, and the founder of The Table Group. Named by Fortune as “one of the new gurus you should know,” Patrick helps leaders build healthy, high-performing organizations grounded in trust and clarity.

In this episode, Ilana and Patrick will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction 

(02:46) Patrick’s Early Life and Career Beginnings

(08:31) Joining Oracle and Pitching Ideas

(12:36) Turning Down a Job Offer from Steve Jobs

(15:40) The Decision to Start the Table Group

(20:18) Navigating the Hard Moments in Entrepreneurship

(23:30) Short Attention Spans as a Bestselling Author 

(28:06) The Birth and Impact of Working Genius 

(34:48) Applying Working Genius to Career Choices

(41:05) W-I-D-G-E-T: The Six Types of Working Genius

(54:57) Healing Childhood Scars and Understanding Self

(59:15) Q&A: The Keys to Building a Portfolio Career

Patrick Lencioni is a bestselling author and organizational health expert, and the founder of The Table Group. He has written 13 books with over 7 million copies sold worldwide, including The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. He is also the creator of The 6 Types of Working Genius, a framework that helps teams identify the work that energizes them and improves performance. Named by Fortune as “one of the new gurus you should know,” Patrick helps leaders build healthy, high-performing organizations grounded in trust and clarity.

Connect with Patrick:

Patrick’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/patrick-lencioni-orghealth

Patrick’s Instagram: instagram.com/patricklencioniofficial

Resources Mentioned:

Patrick’s Books: 

The Five Temptations of a CEO: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0062OAEWM

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0787960756

The 6 Types of Working Genius: A Better Way to Understand Your Gifts, Your Frustrations, and Your Team: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XGPCM36

Working Genius Website: https://www.workinggenius.com

Take the Working Genius Assessment: https://www.workinggenius.com/about/assessment 

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