The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni

104. New Year's Evolution

37 snips

Jan 13, 2026

Forget the shame of traditional resolutions! Discover a more positive approach with a focus on your strengths instead. The hosts reveal why understanding your natural wiring is crucial for sustainable growth. They discuss how spending more time in your areas of genius can lead to energy and fulfillment in both work and home life. Personal anecdotes illustrate the power of this new mindset. Make this year about evolution, not just resolutions!

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INSIGHT

Resolutions Built On Shame Fail

New Year resolutions often target weaknesses and trigger shame instead of growth.
Understanding your natural wiring avoids futile self-judgment and burnout.

ANECDOTE

Michael Jordan Example

Patrick uses Michael Jordan as an example who focused on strengths rather than forcing a disliked skill.
Jordan's coaches told him to play to his strengths and not feel pressured to fix shooting first.

ADVICE

Start By Knowing Yourself

Know your Working Genius before choosing a New Year's goal.
Ask how you can spend more time in your area of genius this year to increase energy and thriving.

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How can you use the Working Genius framework to reframe your traditional New Year’s resolutions so that they don’t lead to frustration or shame?

In episode 104 of the Working Genius Podcast, Patrick Lencioni and Cody Thompson introduce the idea of a “New Year’s evolution” instead of a New Year’s resolution. They explain why resolutions built on shame and weakness tend to fail and how understanding your Working Genius creates a healthier, more effective path to growth. By spending more time in your areas of strength, you can create a more energizing and sustainable year.

Topics explored in this episode:

(00:10) Why Resolutions Often Fail

* Traditional resolutions tend to focus on weaknesses and create shame.

* Starting the year by judging yourself usually leads to frustration and burnout.

(03:04) The Cost of Ignoring Your Wiring

* Trying to improve in areas that conflict with your natural wiring can be miserable.

(05:58) Know Yourself First

* The first step of a New Year’s evolution is understanding how you’re wired.

(06:32) Spend More Time in Your Genius

* Increasing time spent in your Working Genius leads to energy and thriving.

(10:00) Applying Working Genius at Work and Home

* Auditing how you spend your time reveals opportunities for meaningful change.

* Using your Working Genius outside of work can strengthen your family life.

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

Subscribe to The Working Genius Podcast on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4iNz6Yn), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3raC053GF5mtkq6Y1klpRU), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/Working-Genius-YouTube).

Follow Pat Lencioni on https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-lencioni-orghealth, http://www.youtube.com/@PatrickLencioniOfficial, and https://x.com/patricklencioni.

Be sure to check out our other podcast, At The Table with Patrick Lencioni, on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4hJKKSL), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/6NWAZzkzl4ljxX7S2xkHvu), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/At-The-Table-YouTube).

Let us know your feedback via podcast@tablegroup.com.

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