Part 2: Overcome the 5 Dysfunctions of a Team

Overview This Medium article is the second part of a series that examines Patrick Lencioni's model of the Five Dysfunctions of a Team. It explains how technical leaders can identify and address each dysfunction to create a culture of trust, healthy conflict, commitment, accountability, and results.

Key Takeaways

• Trust is the foundation; leaders must foster vulnerability-based trust among team members.
• Encourage open debate and constructive conflict to surface ideas and prevent hidden agendas.
• Clarify decisions and ensure everyone is committed to the agreed-upon plan.
• Hold team members accountable for their commitments and performance.
• Keep the team focused on collective results rather than individual goals.

Who Would Benefit

• Engineering managers building high-performing software teams.
• Technical leads looking to improve team dynamics.
• CTOs and directors responsible for organizational culture.
• Agile coaches and scrum masters facilitating team health.

Frameworks and Methodologies

• Patrick Lencioni's Five Dysfunctions of a Team model.
• Trust-building exercises and psychological safety practices.
• Accountability frameworks such as OKRs and clear responsibility charts.