Patrick Lencioni’s five dysfunctions of a team
Ever since I met Pat Lencioni years ago at his office in Lafayette, California, I’ve been a fan of his energy, creativity, and ideas. His book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable, is a management classic. It’s written as a story, similar to Ken Blanchard’s Gung Ho!
It addresses what can lead talented leadership and executive teams to incompetence –– and how to encourage them towards a healthier way of operating. I’ve found this book works well for bringing together new leadership teams as the center of a “book club” discussion.
Here are the five dysfunctions as described in the book:
- “Inattention to results
- Avoidance of accountability
- Lack of commitment
- Fear of conflict
- Absence of trust”
Pat writes: “So, like a chain with just one link broken, teamwork deteriorates if even a single dysfunction is allowed to flourish.”
Personally, I’ve found that addressing #4 and #5 tends to make #1, #2, and #3 fall into place.
What do you think about the five dysfunctions of a team? How have you seen it work with leadership teams? Have you tried “book clubs” with new managers or new leadership teams? If so, what book(s), and how did it go?
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