328 | Patrick Lencioni on Shared Language, Working Genius, and Thriving Team Cultures

In this episode of the Lead Culture Podcast, Jenni Catron sits down with renowned leadership expert and bestselling author Patrick Lencioni to explore his groundbreaking framework, The Six Types of Working Genius.

Lencioni—best known for The Five Dysfunctions of a Team and his work on organizational health—shares how the Working Genius model helps leaders and teams understand the kinds of work that energize them and the tasks that drain them. When teams gain a shared language for how people are wired to contribute, collaboration improves, frustration decreases, and culture becomes healthier.

Patrick explains the six types of work required in every project—Wonder, Invention, Discernment, Galvanizing, Enablement, and Tenacity—and how each person typically excels in two of these areas. By identifying these strengths, leaders can build more balanced teams, place people in roles where they thrive, and reduce unnecessary guilt and judgment in the workplace.

Throughout the conversation, Catron and Lencioni discuss:

• Why organizational health is more important than strategy alone
• How the Working Genius framework improves team communication
• Why many leaders unintentionally place people in the wrong roles
• How shared language around strengths transforms team culture
• Practical ways leaders can use the model to hire, develop, and align teams

Whether you’re new to the Working Genius assessment or already using leadership tools like DISC, Myers-Briggs, or the Enneagram, this conversation will help you rethink how work gets done—and how understanding your team’s natural gifts can unlock greater engagement, productivity, and purpose.

If you want to build a healthier culture, lead people more effectively, and help your team do their best work, this episode is a must-listen.

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