Struggling with team dynamics and productivity?
A cohesive team not only drives productivity but also fosters innovation and a positive work environment.
One of the most influential frameworks for understanding and improving team dynamics is Patrick Lencioni’s 5 Behaviors of a Cohesive Team™. Lencioni is the founder of The Table Group and also the brain team behind The Six Types of Working Genius™, another powerful tool for team building.
This model outlines five key behaviors that teams must master to function effectively and achieve their collective goals.
As a business consultant, I have found this framework and The Working Genius framework to be invaluable in helping organizations and nonprofits build high-performing teams.
This post outlines the five critical behaviors that underpin a cohesive team and provides practical strategies to implement them effectively.
Lencioni and The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
What Lencioni observed was that there are five dysfunctions that cause conflict among teams. They are: the absence of trust, the fear of conflict, the lack of commitment, the avoidance of accountability, the inattention to results.
Watch Lencioni himself explain each dysfunction and you’ll see just how these dysfunctions led Lencioni to identify the 5 behaviors of cohesive teams.
What are the Five Behaviors™?
Strong, cohesive teams can drive innovation, enhance productivity, and foster a positive workplace culture.
The Five Behaviors™ is a powerful team assessment tool that guides teams through each behavior (or dysfunction) before moving on to the next area of focus. Let me explain by starting with the first behavior: trust.
Behavior 1: Build Trust
Trust is a cornerstone of a cohesive team. It involves creating an environment where team members feel safe to express their ideas, take risks, and rely on each other, without fear of judgment or retaliation.
The type of trust Lencioni is referring to is based on vulnerability more than on reliability. This means that team members are comfortable being open and honest about their mistakes, weaknesses and fears. Without trust, team members are unlikely to commit fully to the team’s goals.
Strategies to Build Vulnerability-Based Trust:
Open Communication: Encourage team members to share their thoughts and feelings openly. Create an environment where everyone feels heard. (Tools: Personal Histories Exercise)
Transparency in actions and decisions: Be open about decision-making processes and the reasons behind them. This builds credibility and trust. (Tools: 360-Degree Feedback)
Consistent and reliable behavior: Ensure that actions align with words. Consistency in behavior reinforces trust. (Tools: Leader Vulnerability)
Trust is the foundation upon which the other behaviors are built. Without it, a team cannot hope to engage in healthy conflict, achieve commitment, hold one another accountable, or focus on results.
Now that we’ve gone through the dysfunctions
and the first behavior,
look at this inverted pyramid that represents the model.
You build on the trust first.
Then, you’re ready to move on to
handling disagreements.
Behavior 2: Embrace Healthy Conflict
Many teams shy away from conflict, viewing it as destructive. However, Lencioni argues that healthy conflict is essential for growth and innovation.
Productive conflict allows team members to discuss ideas openly, challenge each other, and ultimately arrive at better solutions.
Strategies to Foster Healthy Conflict:
Encourage Diverse Viewpoints: Actively seek out different perspectives to ensure that all ideas are considered.
Establish Ground Rules for Discussions: Set clear guidelines for discussions to ensure they remain respectful and productive.
Bring In An Expert Facilitator On Conflict Resolution Techniques: Provide training to help team members navigate conflicts effectively.
By embracing healthy conflict, teams can harness diverse perspectives and ideas, leading to more innovative and effective solutions.
Behavior 3: Achieve Commitment & Buy-In
Commitment means that team members are aligned with the team's decisions and are dedicated to achieving its goals.
Strategies to Foster Commitment:
Clear Goals and Expectations: Ensure that team goals and expectations are clearly defined and understood by all members.
Inclusive Decision-Making Process: Involve all relevant team members in the decision-making process to foster buy-in and commitment.
Regular Progress Reviews and Feedback: Hold regular reviews to track progress and provide feedback, keeping everyone aligned and committed.
Commitment drives team success and accountability. When team members are committed to the decisions and goals of the team, they are more likely to work together effectively and achieve their objectives.
Behavior 4: Hold Each Other Accountable
Accountability is about ensuring that team members hold each other to high standards of performance and behavior. This is not the sole responsibility of the team leader but of every team member.
Strategies to Practice Accountability:
Regular Check-Ins: Schedule regular check-ins to review progress towards goals and address any issues that arise. This keeps everyone on track and accountable for their contributions.
Encourage Peer-to-Peer Accountability with Peer Reviews: Implement peer reviews where team members evaluate each other’s performance. This encourages a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
Set Clear Roles & Expectations: Define roles and responsibilities and set clear expectations for performance and behavior from the outset. This makes it easier to hold team members accountable when they fall short.
By holding each other accountable, teams can maintain high standards and achieve better results.
Behavior 5: Focus on Results (i.e. Collective Outcomes)
The ultimate goal of any team is to achieve results. However, Lencioni emphasizes that the focus should be on collective results rather than individual or departmental goals.
When teams prioritize the success of the whole over individual achievements, they can achieve truly remarkable outcomes.
Strategies to Stay Results-Oriented:
Set Clear Goals by Establishing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Set clear, measurable goals for the team and track their progress. This gives everyone a shared target to work towards and keeps the team focused and motivated..
Celebrate Successes: Recognize and celebrate the team’s successes, both big and small. This reinforces the importance of collective results and motivates the team to continue striving for excellence.
Regularly Reviewing and Adjusting Goals: Continuously review and adjust goals to ensure they remain relevant and challenging.
By focusing on collective results, teams can ensure that everyone is working towards the same objectives and that the success of the team is prioritized over individual achievements.
A Recap of The Five Behaviors™
The 5 Behaviors of a Cohesive Team™ are interrelated and build on each other.
Trust is the foundation, enabling healthy conflict, which in turn leads to commitment.
Commitment fosters accountability and accountability drives results.
When these behaviors are integrated into daily team practices, they can transform the way teams operate and achieve their goals.
Build Cohesive Teams with a Trained Facilitator of The 5 Behaviors™
Building a cohesive team is not an overnight process, but the rewards are well worth the effort. By mastering the 5 Behaviors of a Cohesive Team™—trust, conflict, commitment, accountability, and results—teams can achieve higher levels of performance, innovation, and satisfaction.
As a business consultant, I’ve witnessed the transformative power of this framework firsthand and encourage organizations to embrace these principles to unlock their full potential. Whether you’re leading a small team or a large organization, the 5 Behaviors of a Cohesive Team™ can provide a roadmap to success.
Assess your teams, identify areas for improvement, and take proactive steps to build a stronger, more cohesive team.
Your organization’s future depends on it. Implementing these key behaviors will not only enhance collaboration and productivity but also drive your team toward greater success.
Comments