BOOK REVIEW: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
by Patrick Lencioni
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ABOUT THE BOOKS (from Amazon):
The New York Times best-selling team leadership handbook for modern executives, managers, and organizations
After her first two weeks observing the problems at DecisionTech, Kathryn Petersen, its new CEO, had more than a few moments when she wondered if she should have taken the job. But Kathryn knew there was little chance she would have turned it down. After all, retirement had made her antsy, and nothing excited her more than a challenge. What she could not have known when she accepted the job, however, was just how dysfunctional her team was, and how team members would challenge her in ways that no one ever had before.
For twenty years, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team has been engaging audiences with a page-turning, realistic fable that follows the travails of Kathryn Petersen, DecisionTech’s CEO, as she faces the ultimate leadership crisis. She must unite a team in such disarray that it threatens to derail the entire company.
Equal parts leadership fable and business handbook, this definitive source on teamwork by Patrick Lencioni reveals the five behavioral tendencies that go to the heart of why even the best teams struggle. He offers a powerful model and step-by-step guide for overcoming those dysfunctions and getting every one rowing in the same direction.
Today, the lessons in The Five Dysfunctions of a Team are more relevant than ever. This special anniversary edition celebrates one of the best-selling business books of all time with a new foreword from the author that reflects on its legacy and lessons.
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The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni is an essential guide for any team leader seeking to elevate their collective performance.
Lencioni artfully employs a fable-style narrative to outline the five dysfunctions that commonly plague teams: absence of trust, fear of conflict, lack of commitment, avoidance of accountability, and inattention to results.
His storytelling approach isn’t just engaging—it helps put complex ideas into practical, relatable contexts. The fable gives life to these dysfunctions, allowing readers to understand them not as abstract concepts, but as real issues impacting real people.
One of the aspects I appreciated most about Lencioni’s work was his focus on the emotional and relational aspects of team dynamics. This approach highlights that in the end, a team’s performance rests heavily on the interpersonal relationships and trust within it. Lencioni doesn’t promise a quick fix—quite the opposite. He acknowledges that building a functional, cohesive team is hard work, requiring ongoing effort and diligence.
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team is a must-read for any team leader. It serves as a wake-up call, shedding light on the often-ignored problems that hold back our teams and providing practical, applicable solutions to these challenges. No matter your industry or team size, Lencioni’s book is sure to equip you with valuable insights to bring your team to the next level.