244. Embracing Tension is the Key to Innovation

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Jun 10, 2025

This podcast dives into how embracing tension can spark innovation. The hosts reveal that discomfort, whether through interpersonal conflict or environmental pressures, is a catalyst for creativity. They share examples of how manufacturing urgency can help teams innovate before crises hit. The conversation highlights the necessity of healthy conflict and urges leaders to engage in difficult dialogues. Listeners learn how fear and joy can both drive innovation, emphasizing the balance needed for organizational growth.

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INSIGHT

Tension Drives Innovation

Innovation requires experiencing both interpersonal and environmental tension.
Without this discomfort, creativity and breakthrough innovation rarely happen.

ANECDOTE

Creative Conflict Is Essential

Creativity demands conflict, as seen in Patrick Lencioni's experience as an author and screenwriter.
Without trust to argue and disagree, creativity suffers and leads to mediocrity.

ANECDOTE

Innovative Leaders Embrace Tension

Steve Jobs and Elon Musk exemplify leaders willing to endure tension for innovation.
Their comfort with conflict and intensity often fuels extraordinary breakthroughs.

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Are you missing out on innovation because you're avoiding discomfort? How can you embrace the tension that's required for innovation?

In episode 244 of At The Table, Patrick Lencioni and Cody Thompson explore the crucial link between tension and innovation. They argue that real creativity requires discomfort—whether from interpersonal friction or environmental urgency. Through personal stories and business examples, they offer practical ways to embrace conflict and drive change before crisis strikes.

Topics explored in this episode:

(1:14) Tension Can Be Beneficial

* Innovation is universally desired but rarely pursued.

* True creativity demands both environmental and interpersonal tension.

* Most teams avoid conflict until a crisis forces change.

(3:52) Manufacturing Tension and Creativity

* Cody discusses how companies often manufacture environmental tension to force innovation, especially when complacency sets in.

* Pat connects innovation to creativity, drawing on his experience as an author and screenwriter.

(9:17) Does Every Business Need to Innovate?

* Innovation applies to all types of companies in different ways.

* Entrepreneurs often thrive on tension, but most leaders need to learn it.

(14:15) Manufacturing Urgency

* Crises like COVID accelerate innovation by necessity.

* Teams can simulate pressure by setting rallying cries or tight timelines.

(19:24) Fear or Joy Can Drive Innovation

* A team’s willingness to engage in healthy conflict is directly tied to innovation potential.

* The best employees crave meaningful tension and will leave if it’s missing.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

* Only the Paranoid Survive: How to Exploit the Crisis Points That Challenge Every Company, a book by Andrew S. Grove.

This episode of At The Table 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.

At The Table is a podcast that lives at the connection between work life, leadership, organizational health, and culture. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4hJKKSL), Spotify (https://spoti.fi/4l1aop0), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/At-The-Table-YouTube).

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

Connect with Cody Thompson https://www.linkedin.com/in/cody-thompson-a5918850.

Be sure to check out our other podcast, The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni, on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4iNz6Yn), Spotify (https://spoti.fi/4iGGm8u), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/Working-Genius-YouTube).

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

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