The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable by Patrick Lencioni

Last week I finished reading Patrick Lencioni‘s wonderful book The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. When I started the book, I couldn’t leave it and finished in a single day (as an audiobook). It’s short and captivating all throughout.

Update: I finished it for a second time in July ahead of a management book club discussion in the office.

 

Patrick argued that five dysfunctions of a team are – 

1) Absence of trust – unwilling to be vulnerable within the group
2) Fear of conflict – seeking artificial harmony over the constructive passionate debate
3) Lack of commitment – feigning buy-in for group decisions creates ambiguity throughout the organization
4) Avoidance of accountability – ducking the responsibility to call peers on counterproductive behavior which sets low standards
5) Inattention to results – focusing on personal success, status and ego before team success

After reading the book, I also listened to a few of his talks. He is full of energy and humor! In a podcast I came to know his new book The Motive: Why So Many Leaders Abdicate Their Most Important Responsibilities got published just today. I will start listening to it in audible, probably tonight, as soon as I am done with another classic I am finishing up right now.

 

Check out my episode on this in Leader’s Whiteboard below.