120. What Working Genius Says About Prayer

How might your Working Genius influence the way you naturally pray?

In episode 120 of the Working Genius Podcast, Patrick Lencioni and Cody explore the idea that Working Genius may shape not only how people work, but also how they naturally approach prayer. They discuss how different forms of prayer, including spontaneous prayer, journaling, contemplation, structured prayers, silence, and group prayer, may appeal to different kinds of wiring. Ultimately, they encourage listeners to understand their natural preferences without becoming limited by them, because some of the most meaningful spiritual growth may come from praying outside their genius.

Topics explored in this episode:

(00:00) How Your Wiring Shapes Prayer

• Pat introduces the idea that people may have natural prayer preferences connected to their Working Genius, just as they have preferences in the way they approach work.
• He explains that understanding those tendencies can reduce guilt or self-judgment when someone does not naturally enjoy praying the same way another person does.

(02:19) Finding Your Natural Prayer Style

• Cody connects his Discernment and Galvanizing combination to spontaneous, in-the-moment prayer and considers how disruptive versus responsive tendencies might also affect prayer.
• Pat gives examples of how different Working Genius combinations might lend themselves to group prayer, contemplative prayer, journaling, or more structured practices.

(04:46) Why You Should Pray Outside Your Genius

• Pat explains that people should not limit themselves to doing only the work, or prayer, that comes naturally to them.
• He describes how structured prayer such as the rosary can become especially meaningful when he intentionally embraces it despite it not being his natural preference.

(07:12) Stretching Beyond What Feels Comfortable

• Cody reflects on his difficulty maintaining practices such as journaling and silence and considers how those challenges may relate to his natural Working Genius wiring.
• Pat explains that accepting a natural preference can actually make it easier to engage other forms of prayer without resentment, guilt, or the feeling that prayer has become work.

(09:37) Prayer, Sacrifice, and Spiritual Growth

• Cody compares praying outside one's natural wiring to fasting, suggesting that choosing something other than the path of least resistance can shape who a person becomes.
• Pat distinguishes joyful sacrifice from reluctant obligation and closes by encouraging listeners to spend a few minutes praying either in their natural way or in a way that stretches them.

This episode of The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni is brought to you by The Table Group: 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.

Take the assessment today to discover your natural gifts and thrive at work: https://workinggenius.me/about

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