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.)

Excellent Read

I highly recommend this to anyone currently holding or aspiring to hold a leadership position of any kind. I could not put this book down. You won't be sorry when you finish this book in fact, you may want to re-read it in case you missed anything the first time through.

Engaging, short and sweet!

Really enjoyed the story, the narration and learning these 5 dysfunctions. This book kept me engaged and I would definitely recommend.

Good Outline

I like the concepts discussed in the book. I didn’t like the format of the story. The introduction to the story was a bit light, but a good introduction to the concepts prior to the story would have been helpful. Otherwise the narrator was good and conclusions were the best part.

Best book for Leadership development

Get your team together and read through together. It will guide you to be more productive and execute together for some big goals.

Awesome read!

Great leadership guidance! Would highly recommend every leader have their team read this. Very motivating!

Worth the Time Spent Listening and Then Some

Great coverage of high-level overview of certain issues plaguing teams, but a deeper dive into some others as appropriate.

Many of the problems and solutions identified were the same as those I’ve lived through in years of taking on various roles on a wide array of teams. These teams range from traditional sports teams (e.g.: baseball) semi-autonomous team sports (e.g.: wrestling, cross country running), student government, non-profit boards, and various roles (including those in leadership/mentor capacity) on a wealth management team. The outline of solutions and approach will definitely enhance my contributions to these teams (though my competitive athlete days have long since past).

must read

better teams are how we secure a prosperous future. worth every minute. I will read again, again, and again....until I am ready to mentor these crucial principles.

Game Changer

Must read for any leader or consultant. Chocked full of transformational strategies and nuggets! Simply a Classic.

Insightful Read on Teamwork and Leadership

This book was easy to listen to, and taught me a lot about how a team should function. Not just how a team should function, but how a great leader should function as well. A fantastic read.

Another Brilliant Leadership Book by Lencioni

Patrick Lencioni has done it again. For any leader or manager trying to improve their skills I would 100% recommend it.