Does Your Team Function . . . or DYSfunction?

The art of building a talented group of individuals into an effective team is one of the greatest challenges of leadership.  Even the most talented, star-studded group of individuals often fail to realize the enormous potential that good teamwork would accomplish.  If you find that your team tends to be more dys- than functional, read on . . .

"A Leadership Fable" by Patrick Lencioni, titled, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, contrasts ways that teams of people are functional or dysfunctional.  Lencioni states that members of well-functioning teams tend to behave in these ways:

1. Team members trust one another.
2. They openly discuss ideas and engage in passionate debate.
3. They are committed to plans of action.
4. They hold one another accountable.
5. They focus on achieving collective results.

That's the positive model.  It's a delicate balance of functional team and individual behaviors.  Lencioni states that, "...like a chain with just one link broken, team work deteriorates if even a single dysfunction is allowed to flourish." (p. 189).

Think about it -- a single dysfunction can begin to derail the most successful team effort.

Let's take a look at the five dysfunctions identified by Lencioni.  What are they?  Basically, they are the mirror images of the previous five (positive) points:

1. Teams exhibit an absence of trust among its members, an unwillingness to be genuinely open with one another.
2. Teams lacking trust set the tone for fear of conflict, where guarded comments replace open discussion and healthy debate.
3. Team members who fear conflict also have a lack of commitment to decisions and team commitments.
4. Next comes an avoidance of accountability where there is no commitment to a plan of action, or counterproductive actions are not scrutinized.
5. Building upon previous dysfunctions, the fifth is inattention to results.  Individual needs, egos, or special interests tend to get in the way of collective team goals.

If any of these five dysfunctions describes your team (FEMA, anyone?), be sure to take a look at this book.  Especially helpful are Lencioni's in-depth comparisons of each of the functions and dysfunctions.  A team assessment chapter helps to determine how well your team is working together.  This is an excellent resource for team leaders.

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni, was published in 2002 by Jossey-Bass.  ISBN 0-7879-6075-6.