The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
10/11/2005 00:20 Filed in: Books & Literature
Guest review by Jason Snyder
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
by Patrick Lencioni
2002, Jossey-Bass
All of us have experienced a grand lie early in life. We were the victims of a school system that conditioned us to believe that success is merited by individual achievement—the grade! Then we join the work force and learn the truth, that the success of our company or organization depends upon our ability to work with a team to achieve results. It is no surprise that teamwork doesn't come naturally. Why do so many teams fail to realize their full potential?
In classic leadership fable style, Patrick Lencioni addresses five key dysfunctions that must be overcome to achieve success. Why do teams fail? The first dysfunction is that people choose individual status over achieving group results. Why don't teams achieve results? The second dysfunction is that team members choose popularity over accountability. They fail to hold one another accountable for bad behavior and lack of team results. Why is accountability difficult to attain? It's because of the third dysfunction, that people fail to commit to decisions. It's hard to hold someone accountable to a decision you haven't committed to. Why are people unwilling to commit? The fourth dysfunction is the fear of conflict, choosing false harmony instead. People fail to engage in unfiltered, productive, ideological debate, and because their opinion was never heard, they don't want to commit to someone else's decision. Why do people fail to enter into conflict? The final dysfunction is that there is an absence of trust among team members who choose invulnerability instead.
The cornerstone of every organization is teamwork. Teams can thrive whenever there is trust which leads to a healthy environment of conflict which leads to committing to decisions which leads to holding one another accountable which leads to accomplishing group results.
Feel free to contact Jason Snyder at snymo@mac.com .