book of the month: five dysfunctions of a team

I’m always delighted when I read a Patrick Lencioni book. I enjoy both his clear take on things and his user-friendly writing style. So reading his best-seller, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, was a no-brainer.

In the business fable style that Lencioni is famous for, he tells the story of the leadership team of a technology company. In it, he shows how leadership teams can use his simple model to deliberately improve their alignment, execution and results.

Lencioni covers the five critical dysfunctions of a team, which each build on the other. They include:
1) absence of trust - not feeling comfortable being open, vulnerable and real - which leads to 
2) fear of conflict - leaving things unsaid and avoiding sharing differing opinions  - and therefore 
3) lack of commitment - team members don't feel decisions are appropriate or feasible - which results in
4) avoidance of accountability - hiding performance, blaming or making excuses - and therefore
5) inattention to (team) results - not focusing on true progress and organizational impact.

After the story, further details on the model follow with tips for working on each dysfunction.

Out of all the team effectiveness frameworks I’ve studied and used, this one is the simplest. Yet, it’s still completely relevant and applicable.

The Five Dysfunctions framework is also one of the tools in the Scaling Up system and the 7 Attributes of Agile Growth framework that we use with CEOs and leadership teams of mid-sized prairie-based companies.

Book: 229 pgs, 3h45m audio. Soundview Summary: 8 pgs, 19m audio. Get-Abstract summary: 5 pgs, 10m audio.

How can you strengthen your leadership team?
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To find out what you can improve in your leadership team to grow more easily, quickly and profitability, try our complimentary Agile Growth Checklist*. This self-service questionnaire takes 5 to 10 minutes to complete. You'll receive the checklist with your responses immediately. Within 24 hours, you'll receive a compiled report highlighting areas to improve. This report is complementary and involves no obligation.  Complete section 1 and 4 to check your leadership team* and accountability processes*. Or complete all 7 sections to find out how your company is doing in each of the 7 areas needed to produce more rapid, profitable and sustainable growth. ​

CHECK YOUR leadership team - TRY THE CHECKLIST

*All of Patrick Lencioni’s best practices are included in our Agile Growth Checklist, as well as many others developed by world-renowned business leaders, researchers and professionals.