Summary of Overcoming The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Field Guide for Leaders, Managers, and Facilitators (J–B Lencioni Series)

Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team builds on the foundational lessons of Patrick Lencioni’s bestseller, providing actionable guidance for putting those concepts into practice. While many teams understand the theory behind the five dysfunctions—absence of trust, fear of conflict, lack of commitment, avoidance of accountability, and inattention to results—leaders often struggle to translate that knowledge into real change.

In this book, Lencioni offers practical tools, exercises, and assessments designed to help teams diagnose their challenges, identify areas for improvement, and create a clear path toward cohesion and high performance. Drawing on real-world examples, he prompts teams to ask the hard questions: Are we truly functioning as a team? Are we performing at the level we aspire to? Are we willing to commit the time, energy, and focus necessary to succeed together?

Concise and accessible, Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team equips leaders, managers, and consultants with the resources they need to develop trust, encourage healthy conflict, foster accountability, and maintain focus on collective results. It’s a practical, step-by-step guide for transforming struggling groups into high-functioning teams that achieve meaningful goals.

With this guide, organizations can move beyond theoretical understanding and take real action to break down barriers, strengthen collaboration, and build teams capable of consistent, sustainable success.