The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable

Patrick Lencioni

Physical

Available

Most of the organizations where we live and work are marked by under-performing, often dysfunctional teams. Lencioni provides a powerful theory about the five behavioral tendencies that corrupt teams. His insights are at once both groundbreaking and simple, and they are presented in a way that can be applied in any organization - immediately. The five dysfunctions: Recognition corrupts Results. The desire for individual credit erodes the focus on collective success. Popularity corrupts Accountability.

The need to avoid interpersonal discomfort prevents team members from holding one another accountable for their behaviors. Certainty corrupts Clarity. The fear of being wrong prevents members of teams from making decisions in a timely and definitive way. Harmony corrupts Conflict. The desire for preserving harmony eliminates the occurrence of productive, ideological conflict. Invulnerability corrupts Trust.

The fear of being vulnerable in front of team members prevents the building of trust within the team. The book begins with the fictional story of a woman who becomes CEO of a struggling, high-profile Silicon Valley company with a dysfunctional executive team and turns things around. Following the story is an analysis of the five corruptions, diagnostic questions to help readers assess their organizations, and a teamwork model giving them action steps to overcome the corruptions.

What will you learn from this book

  1. Absence of Trust: Trust is the foundation of a healthy team. Without trust among team members, open communication and collaboration become challenging.

  2. Fear of Conflict: Healthy conflict is necessary for growth and innovation. Teams that avoid conflicts or disagreements might miss out on valuable discussions and solutions.

  3. Lack of Commitment: When team members are not fully committed to decisions or goals, the team's progress can be hindered. Clear and mutual commitment to objectives is crucial.

  4. Avoidance of Accountability: Holding each other accountable for results is essential for a high-performing team. When team members avoid responsibility, it affects the team's effectiveness.

  5. Inattention to Results: Focusing solely on individual goals or personal success rather than team outcomes can lead to a lack of collective success and hinder overall team performance.

  6. Building Trust: The book might provide strategies for building trust among team members, such as vulnerability, honesty, and reliability.

  7. Embracing Healthy Conflict: It may emphasize the importance of encouraging healthy debates and constructive conflicts to surface diverse perspectives and find the best solutions.

  8. Creating Clear Goals and Commitment: The book might stress the significance of setting clear, achievable goals and ensuring everyone is committed to achieving them.

  9. Establishing Accountability: Encouraging a culture where team members hold each other accountable for their actions and commitments fosters a sense of responsibility.

  10. Focus on Collective Success: Highlighting the importance of focusing on collective team success rather than individual achievements to ensure the team achieves its goals.

Language English
ISBN-10 0470310448
ISBN-13 9780470310441
No of pages 227
Font Size Medium
Book Publisher Wiley India Pvt Ltd
Published Date 09 Jan 2006

About Author

Author : Patrick Lencioni

5 Books

Related Books