The Five Dysfunctions of a Team

I (along with AI) have created music inspired by a number of leadership classics, including Patrick Lencioni's book The Five Dysfunctions of a Team.

[Svensk version?]

Lencioni has written several leadership books where the first half is something he calls a fable, while the second half focuses on lessons and principles based on that fable. The books do not begin with a traditional fable featuring talking animals but rather with workplace stories depicting ordinary people in various situations. Perhaps Lencioni is suggesting that we sometimes behave in ways that are not entirely rational or healthy in the workplace. The books I have read have been both highly insightful and entertaining.

In the book The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, he identifies and analyzes the five most common and destructive dysfunctions in team collaboration. This is probably his most famous book, and I can understand why. Getting teams to work really well together is challenging, and when I read the book, I felt like I had discovered the key elements to effective team development.

?? Everyone benefits when the team functions well. A high-performing team is not the result of a slave-driving employer or team leader. On the contrary, it’s a nurturing environment where everyone thrives—and gains energy from the collaboration and the results.

The goal of the book is to help leaders and team members understand why so many groups fail to develop into strong, cohesive teams that can perform at the high level that their individual talents should enable.

The principles are summarized in an instructive pyramid, where you lay the foundation for your teamwork at the base and then continue upwards.

Everything starts with TRUST

You have to start with trust, meaning confidence in one another. Without it, you won't get anywhere. I need to be able to trust that you'll take the shot if I pass you the ball in a good scoring position and genuinely try to score—and I also need to trust that you won't throw me under the bus when the team faces criticism.

When there is a lack of trust in a team, it means that members do not feel safe enough to be open and vulnerable with one another. They are afraid to admit mistakes, ask for help, or express their insecurities and weaknesses. This lack of openness creates an atmosphere of suspicion and uncertainty, where each member holds back their opinions and feelings out of fear of being judged or exploited.

How do you build trust in a team?

Building trust takes time and requires a conscious effort from all team members, especially the leaders. Here are some strategies for building trust:

1. Promote open communication: Encourage team members to be open and honest with one another. Create an environment where it’s okay to talk about mistakes and lessons learned, without fear of being judged.
2. Lead by example: Leaders must set a good example by being open and vulnerable themselves. When the leader shows that it’s okay to make mistakes and ask for help, it creates a sense of security that spreads throughout the team.
3. Engage in team-building activities: Activities that help team members get to know each other on a deeper, more personal level can strengthen bonds and build trust. This can include everything from social activities to workshops focused on self-awareness and communication.
4. Encourage and reward honesty: Show that openness and honesty are valued by acknowledging and rewarding those who are willing to bring up difficult issues or admit their mistakes.

Building trust is a continuous process, but it is one of the most important investments a team can make to improve both its work environment and effectiveness.

Songs of the Leadership Classics

So this is one of the books that I (together with some AI tools) have created music for and released as the album Songs of the Leadership Classics (by Harmony Management). If you feel that the ideas above resonate with you, you're welcome to add Overcomming Team Dysfunctions Song (Her) or Overcomming Team Dysfunctions Song (Him) to one of your playlists. Below, you'll find links to one of these songs along with the lyrics:

| Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube | Amazon Music |

OVERCOMING TEAM DYSFUNCTIONS SONG (Her)

We start with trust the ground we stand
In each other strength at hand
No fear to speak our minds are free
Together we build our unity

Honesty our guiding light
Open hearts we stand upright
Step by step one by one
Facing challenges we've just begun

Stronger together overcoming dysfunction
Building a team with clear instruction
Through every challenge every fight
Focused on results we shine so bright

Embrace conflict don't shy away
Healthy debates they pave the way
In every voice there's a place
To find solutions to find grace

Commitment strong decisions clear
With every choice we persevere
Step by step one by one
With unity we've already won

Stronger together overcoming dysfunction
Building a team with clear instruction
Through every challenge every fight
Focused on results we shine so bright

In every strong decision clear
With every choice we persevere
Step by step one by one
With unity we've already won

Stronger together overcoming dysfunction
Building a team with clear instruction
Through every challenge every fight
Focused on results we shine so bright

No room for ego we play fair
Results in sight we truly care
With these values our path is clear
Stronger together year after year

Embrace conflict don't shy away
Healthy debates they pave the way
In every voice there's a place
To find solutions to find grace

Commitment strong decisions clear
With every choice we persevere
Step by step one by one
With unity we've already won

Stronger together overcoming dysfunction
Building a team with clear instruction
Through every challenge every fight
Focused on results we shine so bright

No room for ego we play fair
Results in sight we truly care
Avoiding blame we own our part
With courage strong we lead with heart