The Five Dysfunctions of a Team

Success comes down to how well your team works together.
Great players can win games, close sales, or save money—but great teams win over the long haul.

This business classic explores why even the most talented teams can fall apart and what to do about it. It shifts the focus from roles and skills to the health of the team—how well it functions together.

Lencioni outlines five core dysfunctions that hold teams back:
• Absence of trust – Teams need real, vulnerability-based trust, not just surface-level cooperation.
• Fear of conflict – Growth comes when teams are willing to challenge and debate instead of maintaining artificial harmony.
• Lack of commitment – Progress happens when people own tasks and follow through.
• Avoidance of accountability – Strong teams hold each other to account and call out what’s not working.
• Inattention to results – Winning teams know what matters, measure it, and execute with clarity.

Start here: Build vulnerability-based trust.
Leaders set the tone: ask for help, admit mistakes, accept feedback without getting defensive, and tackle problems—not people.

How strong is your team—really? Where would a health check show warning signs?

Pick one dysfunction that’s showing up and take one practical step this week to shift it.