The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable

by Patrick Lencioni

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable is a business book written by Patrick Lencioni. It presents the concept of team dysfunctions through a fictional story to make the material engaging and relatable. (You can purchase this book by clicking on the book image - this is not an affiliate link)

Here are the five dysfunctions and a brief description of each:

1. Absence of Trust: This is the foundation of the pyramid of dysfunctions. In the context of teams, trust is about being vulnerable with each other, admitting mistakes, weaknesses, and asking for help. Without trust, teams cannot function effectively.

2. Fear of Conflict: Teams that lack trust are incapable of engaging in unfiltered, passionate debate about key issues. This leads to a lack of commitment because not all ideas or opinions are aired and considered.

3. Lack of Commitment: Without having aired their opinions in the course of passionate and open debate, team members will often not buy into decisions. This means they won't fully commit to decisions, leading to an absence of action.

4. Avoidance of Accountability: Without commitment, team members are hesitant to call out peers on their actions and behaviors that seem counterproductive to the team.

5. Inattention to Results: The ultimate dysfunction. When team members prioritize their own ego, career, or something else over the collective results of the team, the team fails.

Throughout the book, Lencioni provides actionable advice on how to overcome these dysfunctions and turn a dysfunctional team into a cohesive one. The story format makes it accessible and memorable, which has contributed to its popularity in the business world.