The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni

Episode 86: Preemptive Vulnerability: Turning Your Quirks into Connection
Date: May 6, 2025
Host: Patrick Lencioni (A), Co-host: Cody Thompson (B)
Guest: Matt (C)

Episode Overview

This episode explores the concept of "preemptive vulnerability"—openly acknowledging the quirks or “rough edges” that stem from our Working Genius types before they become points of friction in our relationships. Patrick and Cody argue that proactively naming these tendencies not only defuses potential annoyance but also accelerates trust and connection both at work and in our personal lives. They walk through all combinations of the Working Genius model, explaining what each type might preemptively share with colleagues, family, or friends to improve understanding and teamwork.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What is Preemptive Vulnerability?

• Definition: Willingly sharing the ways your strengths can become quirks or even annoyances, particularly those rooted in your working genius, before others notice or are affected.
• Benefit: "If you can preemptively tell people what you do, sometimes that annoys people, you look like a champ." (A, 00:54)
• Application: This candidness is not only for teams but for families, marriages, friendships—any environment where openness can fast-track trust (B, 02:15).
• Key Insight: The discomfort of vulnerability lasts just a few seconds, and "there's relief in you and in the other person." (A, 03:01)

2. The Power of Admitting Your Genius "Rough Edges"

• By inviting others to notice and call out these tendencies, you create permission for them to do the same, cultivating a culture of candor (A, 03:32).
• This episode focuses specifically on how your “genius” areas can cause disruption, not your areas of frustration or weakness (A, 04:35).
• Not about apologizing for your gifts, but about acknowledging when they’re out of context or exaggerated (A, 04:40).

Combos & Conversation: Walking Through Every Working Genius Pair

Each working genius pair is discussed as follows—what the “rough edge” is, how it shows up, and what to say preemptively.

Wonder (W) Combos

• WI: Wonder + Invention

  • Rough Edge: Prone to impractical ideas; can create chaos with creativity at the wrong time.
  • Preemptive Vulnerability: "I'm not always realistic or practical in my thinking... I'm going to be inventing sometimes when we're way downstream." (A, 05:07)
  • Memorable Moment: Team laughter at “not the right time, but we love you. Just right now, that’s not the right thing.” (A, 05:45)

• WD: Wonder + Discernment

  • Rough Edge: Over-nuancing; slows conversations, stuck in self-questioning.
  • Preemptive Vulnerability (with Matt): "If we get into a meeting and I start asking questions... I really have to get in front of it and say, hey, remember, I'm a wd." (C, 07:44)
  • Quote: “They like nuance. So it makes it hard for them to be certain about things...” (B, 07:12)

• WG: Wonder + Galvanizing

  • Rough Edge: Oscillates between impulsiveness and caution.
  • Preemptive Vulnerability: "I'm going to seem simultaneously impulsive and then cautious in the next breath." (A, 10:28)
  • Quote: “I wonder if I should, and then buy this car.” (B, 10:44)

• WE: Wonder + Enablement

  • Rough Edge: Overly deferential; hesitant to initiate change.
  • Preemptive Vulnerability: "Sometimes I don't know how to help. It can make me come across as deferential. But my intentions are good." (B, 11:53)
  • Quote: “I'm probably going to be letting people roll over me... you're allowed to go, hey, don't do that.” (A, 12:52)

• WT: Wonder + Tenacity

  • Rough Edge: Internal tension, vacillates rapidly between brainstorming and execution.
  • Preemptive Vulnerability: “You're going to be confused and I'm going to be stressed... you might have to tie my hands behind my back and say, let's set the W aside right now.” (A, 13:34)
  • Quote: “We call it altitude sickness.” (A,13:17)

Invention (I) Combos

• ID: Invention + Discernment (Pat's own type)

  • Rough Edge: Jumps steps, impatient, underestimation of implementation.
  • Preemptive Vulnerability: “I'm really impatient when people aren’t caught up to my thinking because I’m always jumping three steps ahead.” (A, 16:12)
  • Memorable Moment: Pat realizes, “Sometimes I’m frustrated that people don’t understand that I’ve already gone through the process of vetting... how in the world would they know?” (A, 17:57)

• IG: Invention + Galvanizing

  • Rough Edge: Unrelenting enthusiasm; can seem insincere.
  • Preemptive Vulnerability: “If you think I seem insincere, you’re going to find out eventually that I am [authentic]; it just doesn’t show up at first.” (A, 18:42)
  • Team Insight: “Over the top excitement... it’s fun and beautiful and he did buy that car.” (B, 11:10)

• IE: Invention + Enablement

  • Rough Edge: Too accommodating; gives up on ideas quickly.
  • Preemptive Vulnerability: “Allow things to be vetted and discussed and advocate for your idea a little bit more before moving on...” (A, 21:10)
  • Quote: “Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater... no, there’s going to be times where people are going to go, why didn’t you push us harder?” (A, 21:21)

• IT: Invention + Tenacity

  • Rough Edge: Jumps straight to solutions, misses human nuances.
  • Preemptive Vulnerability: “Sometimes you guys can help me by slowing me down or help me think about the impact it has on others.” (B, 21:34)
  • Quote: “If you do it the way I laid it out, exactly, it will work.” (A, 22:25)

Discernment (D) Combos

• DG: Discernment + Galvanizing (Cody's type)

  • Rough Edge: Cavalier, definitive, can dismiss nuance.
  • Preemptive Vulnerability: “I’m pretty quick to get to what I think is the right solution... If you see me doing that, you feel free to call me on it.” (B, 23:18)
  • Notable Exchange: “Curiosity is vulnerability, you know?” (Krista, as quoted by B, 24:38)

• DE: Discernment + Enablement

  • Rough Edge: Overly deferential; fails to push back even if they see an issue.
  • Preemptive Vulnerability: “I’m not good at ruffling other people’s feathers. When I do it, just know I’m going to be feeling really guilty.” (A, 26:14)
  • Quote: “My discernment thinks this might be the wrong idea, and my enablement might not let me tell you the whole truth.” (B, 26:33)

• DT: Discernment + Tenacity

  • Rough Edge: Judgmental; impatient with those slower to execute.
  • Preemptive Vulnerability: “You can be judgmental sometimes... and every one of them [execs] said, I totally do.” (A, 27:46)
  • Quote: “Okay, I already kind of know what to do. Can you end this meeting so I can get out of here and do the work?” (B, 28:37)

Galvanizing (G), Enablement (E), and Tenacity (T) Combos

• GE: Galvanizing + Enablement

  • Rough Edge: Possibly too encouraging or insincere; may support ideas uncritically.
  • Preemptive Vulnerability: “I'm the kind of guy that might just encourage you off a cliff.” (A, 29:31)
  • Notable Example: “I could say I'm going to go spearfish and sleep on the beach for a month. And [my mother-in-law] would be like, you should do it.” (B, 29:52)

• GT: Galvanizing + Tenacity

  • Rough Edge: Impatient, pushy, may “kick you in the butt” when not warranted.
  • Preemptive Vulnerability: “I might kick you in the butt when you don't deserve it... just know that's kind of my reflex.” (A, 31:43)

• ET: Enablement + Tenacity

  • Rough Edge: Overcommitting, too quick to say yes; risks burnout.
  • Preemptive Vulnerability: “I'm going to volunteer too much and I'm going to take on too much... when an ET volunteers, go, are you sure you can do this?” (A, 32:54)
  • Quote: "Anytime somebody says anything, they're like, yeah, I can do that. I want to help you and I know how to get it done." (B, 33:08)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Preemptive vulnerability is “one of the most attractive qualities in the world” (A, 01:15)
• “It will make life easier for you and for all the people around you.” (A, 33:53)
• On shame and acceptance: “So many people...have some shame around the rough edges. Accept and celebrate what you’re great at, but be just as accepting and celebrating on the things that you do to the extreme.” (A, 33:49)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:41–03:01: Defining preemptive vulnerability and its power beyond the workplace.
• 05:09–15:21: Detailed walk-through of Wonder and its combinations.
• 16:11–22:42: Invention combos, personal anecdotes, IG and IE examples.
• 23:42–28:49: Discernment combos, DG leadership tips, DE people-pleasing.
• 29:51–33:08: Galvanizing & Enablement, cheerleading, overcommitment, GT and ET pitfalls.
• 33:36–34:31: The larger impact—shame, acceptance, and transformative effects of this approach.

Tone and Language

The conversation is candid, warm, and humorous, with a supportive and practical tone. Both hosts frequently use real anecdotes and self-deprecating humor, making the insights accessible, non-judgmental, and applicable for listeners in any context.

Final Thoughts

The episode closes with a call to action:

• “Go out there and be preemptively vulnerable about these things, but go ahead and be preemptively vulnerable about your strengths too. In other words, allow yourself to say, yeah, I am good at these things. They go hand in hand.” (A, 34:02)

This approach to working genius not only lessens annoyance and misunderstanding but also deepens authenticity, connection, and joy—at work and beyond.