The Five Dysfunctions of a Team

Written by Patrick Lencioni (for more of his books, go here: http://www.amazon.com/Patrick-Lencioni/e/B001ILFMB2), it is a fictional account of a company who brings in a new CEO and changes the culture. The book takes the basis behind why teams fail and puts it into a realistic story that is easy to read and easy to understand. I find that I frequently read books and think “I understand this idea but I was never able to put it into words.” This is one of those books that vocalizes and puts an order to the problems that arise in dysfunctional organizations and teams.

The fictional tech company brings in a CEO who is not well-versed in the tech world, but knows all about building teams. She brings the executive team on a retreat where they learn about the five dysfunctions of teams and how these steer people and organizations down the wrong path. Her task is to bring these people together and help to turn around a middling company. Through determination, accountability, and tough decisions, she is able to successfully implement change and put the company on the right path.

The fictional story of the tech company helps to frame the dysfunctions in a practical manner where it is easy to see what they are and how they can cause problems within an organization. At the end of the story, Lencioni provides a framework on how you can work to identify and address any of these dysfunctions in your own organization. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team illustrates and explains the importance of Organizational Health for any company, group or team.