I’d like to stay with the topic of teams today. One of my clients has asked his entire leadership team to read Patrick Lencioni’s book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. This week, I have been interviewing members of the team to get their opinions on how well the team is doing when compared to the dysfunctions identified by Mr. Lencioni.
If you haven’t read the book, Mr. Lencioni suggests that there are five items common to all high performing teams.
- Team members trust one another.
- Team members deal with conflict constructively.
- Team members are committed to the success of the team.
- Team members feel personally accountable for team success.
- Team members focus on achieving results as a team.
Here is a brief survey I developed to prime the pump for my interviews. The items are based on Mr. Lencioni’s ideas about effective teams. I asked team members to respond in one of three ways for each item: usually, sometimes, rarely.
You might want to use this to get a quick look at teams you lead or of which you are a member.
Trust
- Team members quickly and genuinely apologize to one another when they say or do something inappropriate or possibly damaging to the team.
- Team members openly admit their weaknesses.
- Team members openly admit their mistakes.
- Team members know about one another’s personal lives, and are comfortable discussing them.
Conflict
- Team members are passionate and unguarded in their discussion of issues.
- Team meetings are lively and interesting.
- Team members encourage one another to raise unpopular points of view and/or dissenting opinions.
- During team meetings, the most important and difficult issues are put on the table and resolved.
Commitment
- Team members know what other team members are working on.
- Team members know how other team members contribute to the collective good of the team and business.
- Team members leave meetings confident that other team members are completely committed to decisions agreed on in the meeting, even if there was initial disagreement.
- Team discussions end with clear and specific decisions.
Accountability
- Team members point out one another’s unproductive behaviors.
- Team members help one another improve unproductive behaviors.
- Team members will do whatever it takes to not let the team down.
- Team members challenge one another’s plans and approaches to their work.
Team Results
- Team members willingly make sacrifices (such as budget, head count, turf) in their departments for the good of the team and business.
- Team morale improves and/or drops with team successes and/or failures.
- Team members willingly share the credit for team accomplishments.
- Team members willingly accept their share of the blame for team failures and problems.
If you answered “usually” to most of these items, and “sometimes” to a few – you have a well functioning team.
If you answered “rarely” to most of these items, and “sometimes” to a few – your team needs some remedial work.
If you answered “sometimes” to most of these items – your team is probably doing OK, but could improve with a little focused attention.
If you have a team in need of assistance, feel free to get in touch with me. I am an expert at creating high performing teams.
That’s it for today. Thanks for reading. Log on to my website www.BudBilanich.com for more common sense. Check out my other blog: www.SuccessCommonSense.com for common sense advice on becoming the career and life success you are meant to be.
I’ll see you around the web, and at Alex’s Lemonade Stand.
Bud
PS: Speaking of Alex’s Lemonade Stand – my fundraising page is still open. Please go to www.FirstGiving.com/TheCommonSenseGuy to read Alex’s inspiring story and to donate if you can.
Hi,
Really nice work! Your article is unique, informative, interesting and is captivating attention of the readers. You have emphasized on a good point.
Posted by: Business Plan Presentataion | November 12, 2009 at 12:45 AM
Hi,
Teamwork helps businesses to grow. It raises ideas. If you are working on projects, teamwork is really important. Good work, I really appreciate it. Thanks.
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