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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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The Five Dysfunctions of a Team summary
Patrick M. Lencioni
A Leadership Fable
17 mins
Topics
Table of Contents
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
Summary of 9 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 9
What is in it for me: learn how to build and maintain a great team
Anyone who has ever had to work with other people to achieve something important has no doubt realized how crucial, and yet difficult, teamwork is. Indeed, great teamwork does not happen by accident; it requires concerted and deliberate efforts. This is because teams are inherently dysfunctional: they are made up of imperfect individuals who have egos and selfish goals. There is no trust (1), therefore no willingness to engage in conflicts (2), no commitment (3), no accountability (4), and eventually bad results (5).
Luckily, it is possible to achieve great teamwork by using certain tools and principles. Understanding how to implement them is crucial for any team leader. For example, team leaders must build trust within the team so that members are comfortable engaging each other in conflict. Leaders must also set and monitor team goals so everyone stays focused. It is equally important for leaders to act as role models, exemplifying good teamwork themselves.
The book answers many essential questions about teamwork, such as:
- Why is it so important to focus on teamwork, even if the team already has many great individuals?
- Why is trust crucial, and why does it require team members to share weaknesses and mistakes openly?
- How can team members be encouraged to focus on team results rather than individual goals?
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What is The Five Dysfunctions of a Team about?
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team (2002) presents the notion that teams are inherently dysfunctional, so deliberate steps must be taken to facilitate great teamwork. A knowledgeable team leader can do a great deal to make his or her team effective, and the book outlines practical tools for achieving this.
Who should read The Five Dysfunctions of a Team?
- Anyone interested in the prerequisites of great teamwork
- Anyone interested in the kind of leadership and management that facilitates great teamwork
- Anyone interested in the interpersonal dynamics of the workplace
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