The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable 20th Anniversary Edition by Patrick Lencioni – Paperback

Build High-Performing Teams with Patrick Lencioni’s Proven Leadership Framework

About the Book

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team is more than a business book—it’s a leadership roadmap that has helped millions of teams worldwide achieve breakthrough results. Through an engaging and relatable fable, Patrick Lencioni exposes the hidden barriers that prevent teams from reaching their goals and provides actionable strategies to build trust, embrace healthy conflict, commit to decisions, hold one another accountable, and focus on collective results. This 20th Anniversary Edition includes exclusive new content and reflections that make Lencioni’s proven framework even more relevant for today’s workplace challenges.

From the Back Cover

“Not finance. Not strategy. Not technology. It is teamwork that remains the ultimate competitive advantage, both because it is so powerful and so rare.”

About the Author

Patrick Lencioni is a renowned author, speaker, and the founder of The Table Group, a management consulting firm specializing in organizational health and executive team development. With over five million copies of his books sold worldwide, Lencioni has become one of the most trusted voices in leadership and team building. His unique ability to blend storytelling with practical business wisdom has made his books essential reading for leaders at every level, from Fortune 500 executives to nonprofit directors.

Who Is This Book For?

This book is essential reading for business leaders, managers, team coaches, entrepreneurs, and anyone responsible for bringing people together to achieve shared goals. If you’ve ever struggled with trust issues, unclear accountability, or lack of commitment within your team, this book provides the clarity and tools you need. It’s perfect for executives looking to transform their leadership approach, HR professionals seeking proven frameworks, and aspiring leaders who want to understand what separates great teams from mediocre ones.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What are the five dysfunctions of a team explained in the book?
The five dysfunctions are: absence of trust (unwillingness to be vulnerable), fear of conflict (seeking artificial harmony), lack of commitment (ambiguity and lack of buy-in), avoidance of accountability (low standards), and inattention to results (focusing on individual goals over team success). Lencioni presents these as a hierarchy where each dysfunction builds upon the previous one.

Q: Is The Five Dysfunctions of a Team suitable for small businesses or only large corporations?
This book is valuable for teams of any size in any industry. Whether you’re running a three-person startup, managing a department of fifty, or leading an enterprise-level organization, the principles apply universally. Many small business owners find it especially helpful because it addresses fundamental team dynamics that impact growth and sustainability.

Q: How is the 20th Anniversary Edition different from the original version?
The 20th Anniversary Edition includes new reflections from Patrick Lencioni on how the model has evolved over two decades, additional insights from real-world applications, and updated perspectives on remote and hybrid team dynamics. The core story and framework remain the same, but you get bonus content that makes it more relevant for today’s workplace.

Q: Can I apply these principles to remote or hybrid teams?
Absolutely. While the book was written before remote work became widespread, the five dysfunctions are even more critical to address in virtual environments. The principles of building trust, encouraging healthy debate, ensuring commitment, holding accountability, and focusing on results are universal and can be adapted to any team structure with the right approach.

Q: How long does it take to read The Five Dysfunctions of a Team?
Most readers complete the book in 3-5 hours. It’s written as an engaging business fable that reads quickly, making it perfect for busy professionals. Many leadership teams read it together as part of professional development programs, discussing one dysfunction per meeting to drive real organizational change.