The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable

by Patrick Lencioni

Teams and team performance is a topic of keen interest to me.  However, the term ‘dysfunction', which appeared in the title of this book, initially dissuaded my interest in purchasing it. I noticed, though, that the book appeared repeatedly on the business best-seller lists and this fact piqued my curiosity.  So when I came across a copy at my church book sale, for a mere $1.00, I purchased it.  Despite my aversion to the title, a quick perusal informed me why it was indeed a best- seller.  Put simply, the book is an easy read containing simple, practical advice about improving team performance. 

Roughly two-thirds of the book is dedicated to a fable about an imaginary team and its new leader named Kathryn.  Reading this section was somewhat predictable and dragged on at times.  It did, however, set the scene for the second part of the book; the team improvement model.  The author lays-out the strength of this model, which lies in its simplicity.

Lencioni describes the five team dysfunctions; the implications of these problems and a brief description for improvement.  He also includes a fifteen-question diagnostic tool for a quick team assessment.  The author depicts the dysfunctions in a triangle with Absence of Trust as the base and foundation issue and Inattention to Results as the triangle apex.  Fear of Conflict, Lack of Commitment, and Avoidance of Accountability completes the model. 

One disagreement I have is with the author’s preference for the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) as a tool.  In my experience I have found this tool to be of limited value.  However, some type of assessment is valuable and offers common language to discuss various personality styles and its impact on team performance.

The author emphasizes the importance of the team leader. Kathryn was depicted with courage, determination, selflessness and a commitment to results.  Although Lencioni says leading effective teams “…comes down to the practice of a small set of principles over a long time…” he is quick to add that a significant amount of time investment is required. 

This is a book worth reading if you want to yield better results from any team you lead.

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© Copyright 2006 Jean Caton      Article template by Rake Consulting

Jean Caton is a speaker, coach, and marketing strategist. She works with businesswomen in corporate America, Healthcare, and entrepreneurs to challenge and support them to attain their professional and personal goals and live a life full of achievement, self-acceptance, and serenity. Jean can be reached at: MyCoachJean@JeanCaton.net