Trust is Key to Unlock The Five Dysfunctions of a Team

The 5 Dysfunctions

In his book The Five Dysfunctions of a Team (on Amazon #ad), Patrick Lencioni shares a model that indicates for a team to be effective; members must overcome five dysfunctions listed  below.  In the video at the bottom of this post, he explains why the issue of trust is relevant for business leaders and teams.

1. Absence of Trust - Members of great teams trust one another on a fundamental, emotional level, and they are comfortable being vulnerable with each other about their weaknesses, mistakes, fears, and behaviors.


2. Fear of Conflict - Teams that trust one another are not afraid to engage in passionate dialogue around issues and decisions that are key to the organization’s success.


3. Lack of Commitment - Teams that engage in unfiltered conflict are able to achieve genuine buy-in around important decisions, even when various members of the team initially disagree.


4. Avoidance of Accountability - Teams that commit to decisions and standards of performance do not hesitate to hold one another accountable for adhering to those decisions and standards.


5. Inattention to Results - Teams that trust one another, engage in conflict, commit to decisions, and hold one another accountable are very likely to set aside their individual needs and agendas and focus almost exclusively on what is best for the team.