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.)

enjoyed the reread

good story. hard to believe things changed around so quickly though. I am re reading this after many years. the story still hits home.

badass

great listen! I work at best body shop and my boss is pretty much building our foundation for the business around this kind of ethic and leadership!

Great read for management.

Love this book and the examples, it breaks down teaching team work to its simplest form.

fine piece or work

This have to be done for a work project but it actually turned out to be better than I expected. I liked how they gave the story of 1st person interrupted then interaction with each other because that is how we actually learn that we actually learn better than just a regular type of textbook. And then the end covered up the type of scenarios to cement the philosophy into our mindsets was extraordinary and 2nd to none. Anybodyet none. Anybody who has to work in a team environment this is truly a recommended piece of work.

A winner

Another real winner in the line up of Patrick Lencioni books. His method of casting real life characters into situations helps make the principles come alive for the reader (or listener). I highly recommend this book for anyone at any level in an organization who is on a team, particularly the leader.

Who said learning can't be fun?

You are the ideal candidate for reading this book if any of the following statements are true:
- You have led or you plan to lead a team.
- You have been a member or plan to be a member of a team.
- You don't already have all the right answers.
- You woke up this morning and still have a pulse.
- You remember Mikey from the Life cereal commercials.
- You enjoy a great story.
 
Immersive technology you say? Patrick Lencioni takes us into the story like an 'Oculus VR Headset'! This is another great blockbuster passage that many of you (if not all of you) will be able to relate to, and probably from your own personal experiences.

TV shows like 'The Office' leave us in stitches laughing at the dysfunctional team on display. How many of you remember (also from personal experience) the dysfunctional office printer/copier 🖨 with the 'PC LOAD LETTER' error as seen in the cult-classic movie 'Office Space'? Yep, all funny stuff! However.. I assure you it's no laughing matter having a team of clicks and factions that can't trust each other as far as they can throw one another, your schedule's behind, and your project is failing. Not so funny.. right?

I'm sure you heard that trust isn't given, it's earned. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that while it is earned, it's also 'LEARNED'! Learning and understanding the Five Dysfunctions of a Team is at the heart of building a solid foundation of trust. Without this understanding, we are building our team's foundation on sand. And I believe the late great Jimi Hendrix said it best; "Team Foundations made of sand, fall to the sea.. eventually"!

Jump in, lots of great lessons to be internalized and lived. You won't want to put this one down once you start it. All good stuff!! If you are leading a team (of any kind), don't let another day go by without finding the lifeblood and the heart of successful teams, not by studying one that is already perfect, but by watching the reshaping, molding, and tempering of one that suffered from the Five Dysfunctions of a Team!

Don't take my word, check it out!
What did you think?
 
#communication #trustbuilding #forwardthinking #teamgrowing #leanmindset

Fantastic

Listening via audible was so great! Wish I had book though to make notes and reference back! Highly recommend for all leadership teams!

Perfect Follow Up to The Goal

loved the story telling, the examples are apt and will be helpful for leaders in executive roles as well as middle management. overall any team can collectively consume the lessons from this short book.

Always something...

Always something new to pick out each time I read this book. This is a top shelf book that should be circulated through your annual review of core materials for self improvement.

Great Book For Teams

Great concepts for teams. The application of the 'fable' helps reinforce those concepts in a conceivable scenario.