The Five Dysfunctions of a Team

A Leadership Fable

By: Patrick Lencioni

Narrated by: Charles Stransky; introduction by Patrick Lencioni

Length: 3 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

In keeping with the parable style, Patrick Lencioni begins by telling the fable of a woman who, as CEO of a struggling Silicon Valley firm, took control of a dysfunctional executive committee and helped its members succeed as a team. Story time over, Lencioni offers explicit instructions for overcoming the human behavioral tendencies that he says corrupt teams (absence of trust, fear of conflict, lack of commitment, avoidance of accountability and inattention to results). Succinct yet sympathetic, this guide will be a boon for those struggling with the inherent difficulties of leading a group.

Building a cohesive team is not complicated, declares Lencioni. Departing from the dry, theoretical writing of many management books, he presents his case in the context of a fictional organization, and in doing so succeeds at communicating his ideas. The scenarios are recognizable and can be applied anywhere teamwork is involved, whether it is a multinational company, a small department within a larger organization, or a sports team. At the end of the story, the main points are summarized, and clearly expressed suggestions and exercises are offered to help bring about change. Concise and easy to follow, this program is recommended for anyone who is a member of a team that needs improvement.

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team is also available in print from Wiley.

©2002 Patrick Lencioni
(P)2002 Random House Inc.

Critic reviews

"A gripping analysis of what makes teams work effectively. This fine work is a must-read for any leader that has come to grips with the fact that no one makes progress - much less succeeds - alone." (James Amos, president and CEO, Mail Boxes Etc.)

Nice storytelling, relatable examples. Recommend!

Strongly recommended to all people who work in diverse teams or are set to lead one.

worth it

liked the concept a out the 5 dysfunctions and well explained through storytelling. workable insights.

A leader's panacea

Great piece of work. A leader's panacea!!
Every manager needs to listen in and not just read/hear.

loved it

loved it. easy to follow, communication style is captivating. Lencioni hits the nail on the head to show that big time failure is usually a result of a dysfunctional team, not bad numbers or lack of opportunity, or the plethora of other reasons we tend to point at as"the issue".

love it

love it help me with myself and things I'm dealing with. Thanks great book. #

Great Resource

This is a challenging, affirming and helpful tool. Anyone that works with others would benefit from this insightful book.

Must listen for scrum masters

A really good in depth look at how teams function and how they can improve their ability to work together.

A must-read for any team that wants to get better

This book holds many simple, yet not commonly seen principles and practices for getting a team focused on what it takes to win.

Revisited. Still practical & relevant.

As companies adapt to the expanding dynamics of the workforce, this fable and exercise is likely to experience a renaisance. Culture counts and Lencioni's authenticity-seeking methods cut through fluff and "the feels" to help teams clarify performance goals while instilling the necessity of respect for peer experiences and perspectives.

Enjoyable and Informative

I am preparing to take the next step into administration in education and was looking for a book to provide guidance on team building. This is definitely a great start. It offers great take aways, even as a team member of various committees.
I really enjoyed how the information is presented. The story telling aspect gave the information context and the summaries drove the information home. The summaries include definitions, suggestions, and the specific role of a leader.