Book Review: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable by Patrick Lencioni

4 out of 5 stars

Published in 2002, this book is still totally relevant in 2019. Every leader in every organization I’ve ever worked for needs to read this book. Heck, every person in every organization I’ve ever worked for needs to read this book whether you are a leader or not. I promise you will see yourself in the examples represented.

What I liked most about this book was that 90% of the book was a story. You were reading what to do or what not to do in the form of a story. You were seeing in the story the model of what to do. So, it read like a fiction novel. The leader of the company in the story was a woman. For me, that made it easier to “see it in action” per se. The last 10% of the book was actually more of the typical leadership business book.

Some reviewers said the characters in the book were cartoonish and full of childish melodrama. But, to me, it was accurate as I work with people like this daily and always have no matter the company. An easy read as I read it in a few hours.

Overcoming The Five Dysfunctions of a Team

SYNOPSIS FROM GOODREADS

In The Five Dysfunctions of a Team Patrick Lencioni once again offers a leadership fable that is as enthralling and instructive as his first two best-selling books, The Five Temptations of a CEO and The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive. This time, he turns his keen intellect and storytelling power to the fascinating, complex world of teams.

Kathryn Petersen, Decision Tech’s CEO, faces the ultimate leadership crisis: Uniting a team in such disarray that it threatens to bring down the entire company. Will she succeed? Will she be fired? Will the company fail? Lencioni’s utterly gripping tale serves as a timeless reminder that leadership requires as much courage as it does insight.

Throughout the story, Lencioni reveals the five dysfunctions which go to the very heart of why teams even the best ones-often struggle. He outlines a powerful model and actionable steps that can be used to overcome these common hurdles and build a cohesive, effective team. Just as with his other books, Lencioni has written a compelling fable with a powerful yet deceptively simple message for all those who strive to be exceptional team leaders.