The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
by Pat Lencioni
Presented by: Don Gleason
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team is a business book by consultant Patrick Lencioni, first published in 2002, that explores the fundamental causes of organizational politics and team failure. Unusually for a business book, it is written as a leadership fable — a fictional story about a new CEO and the team she is tasked to lead.
The story follows Kathryn Petersen, DecisionTech’s new CEO, as she faces the ultimate leadership crisis: uniting a team in such disarray that it threatens to derail the entire company. Through Kathryn’s journey, Lencioni introduces a pyramid model of five interconnected dysfunctions, each one building on the last.
The foundation is an **absence of trust**. Lencioni defines trust not in its traditional sense, but as a state where people are confident that those around them wish them well — a condition that allows people to be sincere and let go of the fear of being judged. Without it, everything above collapses.
The second dysfunction is a **fear of conflict**. The desire to preserve artificial harmony stifles the productive ideological debate that healthy teams need. Teams that avoid conflict don’t eliminate tension — they just drive it underground, where it festers.
Third is a **lack of commitment**. When team members haven’t had the chance to voice their opinions and be genuinely heard, they struggle to buy into decisions — even ones they technically agreed to.
Fourth is **avoidance of accountability**. The need to avoid interpersonal discomfort prevents team members from holding each other accountable for their behaviors and performance, leaving low standards unchallenged.
The fifth dysfunction is **inattention to results** — the pursuit of individual goals and personal status that erodes the team’s focus on collective success.
Lencioni’s core argument is that great people do not automatically make great teams. Teamwork is a discipline, and it requires leaders willing to confront uncomfortable human dynamics head-on. Functional teams avoid wasting time revisiting the same topics because of lack of buy-in, accomplish more with less frustration, and — critically — top performers rarely leave organizations where they are part of a truly cohesive team.
The book remains one of the most widely read leadership titles in print, valued for its accessible storytelling and a model that is simple to understand — even if, as Lencioni readily acknowledges, genuinely difficult to sustain.
WHEN:
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Meet and Greet: 5:30 PM – 5:45 PM (US Central Time)
Presentation: 5:45 PM – 7:00 PM (US Central Time)
Meet Life Long Learners and Open Discussion:
7:00 PM – 7:30 PM (US Central Time)
WHERE (either):
In Person
CHRISTUS Heritage Hall, The Village at Incarnate Word
Braodway at Burr Road
San Antonio, TX 78209
or VIA ZOOM
Presentation:
5:45 PM – 7:00 PM (US Central Time)
**You must register to receive the Zoom Link**
You do not need to have read the book to attend the event.
If you would like to invite other colleagues to join this conference, have them visit the website at www.ExecutiveBookReview.com to find out more about this and future events.