The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
By Patrick Lencioni
$24.95
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team has become the world’s most definitive source on practical information for building teams. The book's impact extends beyond business schools, churches, non-profit organizations, professional sports teams and the military. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team has sold over three million copies and continues to be a fixture on national best-seller lists week after week.
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The Concept
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team outlines the root causes of politics and dysfunction on the teams where you work, and the keys to overcoming them. Counter to conventional wisdom, the causes of dysfunction are both identifiable and curable. However, they don't die easily. Making a team functional and cohesive requires levels of courage and discipline that many groups cannot seem to muster.
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Dysfunction #1: Absence of Trust
The fear of being vulnerable prevents team members from building trust with each other.
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Dysfunction #2: Fear of Conflict
The desire to preserve artificial harmony stifles productive ideological conflict within the team.
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Dysfunction #3: Lack of Commitment
The lack of clarity and/or buy-in prevents team members from making decisions they stick to.
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Dysfunction #4: Avoidance of Accountability
The need to avoid interpersonal discomfort prevents team members from holding each other accountable for their behaviors and performance.
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Dysfunction #5: Inattention to Results
The pursuit of individual goals and personal status erodes the team's focus on collective success.
Characteristics of High Performing Teams
Teams willing to address the five dysfunctions can experience the following benefits. High performing, cohesive teams:
- Are comfortable asking for help, admitting mistakes and limitations and take risks offering feedback
- Tap into one another's skills and experiences
- Avoid wasting time talking about the wrong issues and revisiting the same topics over and over again because of lack of buy-in
- Make higher quality decisions and accomplish more in less time and fewer resources
- Put critical topics on the table and have lively meetings
- Align the team around common objectives
- Retain star employees
Free Tools & Resources
Download our free tools and resources that will supplement your understanding of the five dysfunctions model.
The Concept
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team outlines the root causes of politics and dysfunction on the teams where you work, and the keys to overcoming them. Counter to conventional wisdom, the causes of dysfunction are both identifiable and curable. However, they don't die easily. Making a team functional and cohesive requires levels of courage and discipline that many groups cannot seem to muster.
-
Dysfunction #1: Absence of Trust
The fear of being vulnerable prevents team members from building trust with each other.
-
Dysfunction #2: Fear of Conflict
The desire to preserve artificial harmony stifles productive ideological conflict within the team.
-
Dysfunction #3: Lack of Commitment
The lack of clarity and/or buy-in prevents team members from making decisions they stick to.
-
Dysfunction #4: Avoidance of Accountability
The need to avoid interpersonal discomfort prevents team members from holding each other accountable for their behaviors and performance.
-
Dysfunction #5: Inattention to Results
The pursuit of individual goals and personal status erodes the team's focus on collective success.
Characteristics of High Performing Teams
Teams willing to address the five dysfunctions can experience the following benefits. High performing, cohesive teams:
- Are comfortable asking for help, admitting mistakes and limitations and take risks offering feedback
- Tap into one another's skills and experiences
- Avoid wasting time talking about the wrong issues and revisiting the same topics over and over again because of lack of buy-in
- Make higher quality decisions and accomplish more in less time and fewer resources
- Put critical topics on the table and have lively meetings
- Align the team around common objectives
- Retain star employees
Free Tools & Resources
Download our free tools and resources that will supplement your understanding of the five dysfunctions model.
