The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable
Book Author: Patrick Lencioni
MDA Reviewer: Paul Batz
Patrick Lencioni writes excellent tales of leadership challenges that connect with talented executives. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable is a short, quick read with profound lessons. The assessment at the end of the book is a terrific diagnostic tool for consultants or for leaders who want to steer their own ship through a stormy team dynamic. Leaders can actually see themselves in the dilemmas presented in this book—many of the executives I’ve recommended read this book have said “I actually assigned the names of my team members to the people in the book!” And, it points out the obvious: without trust, a team can’t move forward with anything.
What I like about the book is also what I don’t like about it—the fact that it’s a fable. Some people discredit the wisdom because the story isn’t “real.” And yet, the lessons are exactly the same. I’ve used this book many times in the past three years with executives who are trying to drive change. Many clients have decided to have their team members read this book—it sparks the tough conversations that really need to happen.
I’d recommend this book to any leader who is trying to build a coalition to improve the results of their organization or department. Someone who is right now in the midst of trying to deliver better results, create sustainable change and tweak the organization’s culture. I’ve used it myself several times in my client work, my work here at MDA and as board chair for a large non-profit.
When read in tandem with the Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive (also by Patrick Lencioni) this book becomes the foundation for anyone’s leadership tool box.