How To Identify and Eliminate The Five Dysfunctions on Your Team

In sports, individual talent can win games, but cohesive teamwork wins championships. Patrick Lencioni's "The Five Dysfunctions of a Team" delves into common pitfalls that hinder team success. By understanding and addressing these dysfunctions, athletes can cultivate a culture of trust, accountability, and collective achievement.

The Five Dysfunctions: A Sports Perspective

1. Absence of Trust: Without trust, team members conceal weaknesses and avoid seeking help, leading to fragmentation. In sports, this manifests when players hesitate to rely on teammates, undermining unity.
2. Fear of Conflict: Avoiding constructive conflict results in superficial harmony and unresolved issues. Teams that shy away from honest discussions fail to address problems that can impede performance.
3. Lack of Commitment: Ambiguity in goals leads to lack of commitment. Teams without clear objectives struggle to unify their efforts, resulting in inconsistent performance.
4. Avoidance of Accountability: Without accountability, standards slip. In sports, this means teammates don't challenge each other to improve, leading to mediocrity.
5. Inattention to Results: Focusing on personal achievements over team success hampers collective goals. Teams that prioritize individual stats over wins often underperform.

A Sports Fable: The Turning Point Tigers

The Turning Point Tigers, a college basketball team, boasted talented players but had a losing record. Coach Harper noticed the five dysfunctions plaguing his team:

• Absence of Trust: Players avoided admitting mistakes, fearing judgment.
• Fear of Conflict: Team meetings were silent, with players unwilling to voice concerns.
• Lack of Commitment: Unclear strategies led to inconsistent play.
• Avoidance of Accountability: Players seldom challenged each other's effort.
• Inattention to Results: Star players chased personal accolades over team victories.

Determined to transform the Tigers, Coach Harper implemented changes:

1. Building Trust: He organized team-building exercises where players shared personal stories, fostering vulnerability and camaraderie.
2. Encouraging Healthy Conflict: He established a culture where respectful debates were encouraged, ensuring all voices were heard.
3. Clarifying Commitment: Clear game plans were set, with each player understanding their role and the team's objectives.
4. Instilling Accountability: Peer reviews were introduced, allowing players to constructively critique performances.
5. Focusing on Collective Results: Team goals were prioritized, celebrating wins over individual stats.

Gradually, the Tigers transformed. Trust flourished, communication improved, and a unified commitment to team success emerged. They went from underdogs to championship contenders, exemplifying that addressing internal dysfunctions leads to external triumphs.

Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team

As an athlete, understanding The Five Dysfunctions of a Team can help you and your teammates build a strong, unified team culture. While talent and hard work are essential, the way a team functions as a unit determines long-term success. Let's break down each dysfunction and discuss how you, as an athlete, can facilitate conversations with your coaches and teammates to improve team dynamics.

1. Absence of Trust

What It Looks Like in Sports:

• Players are afraid to admit mistakes or weaknesses.
• Teammates hesitate to communicate openly, fearing judgment.
• There’s a lack of chemistry because players don’t rely on each other.

How to Address It with Coaches & Teammates:

• Be the first to be vulnerable. Share a mistake you made in practice and ask for feedback. This sets the tone for openness.
• Ask for help. If you’re struggling with a skill, ask a teammate or coach for guidance. This fosters mutual trust.
• Encourage transparency. If a teammate is struggling, remind them that mistakes are part of learning and that the team is there to support them.

💬 Conversation Starter:
"Coach, I’ve noticed that some of us hesitate to ask for help or admit when we don’t know something. How can we create an environment where we feel comfortable learning from each other?"

2. Fear of Conflict

What It Looks Like in Sports:

• Players avoid tough conversations, leading to unresolved issues.
• Team meetings are quiet because no one wants to challenge ideas.
• Small frustrations build up and eventually explode in an unhealthy way.

How to Address It with Coaches & Teammates:

• Encourage honest discussions. If something isn’t working in a game plan, respectfully bring it up.
• Call in, not out. Instead of blaming, approach disagreements with the intent to improve the team.
• Be willing to listen. Accept constructive criticism as a tool for growth.

💬 Conversation Starter:
"Coach, sometimes we hold back from giving honest feedback to each other. Could we set aside time for open discussions so we can improve together?"

3. Lack of Commitment

What It Looks Like in Sports:

• Players don’t fully buy into the team’s goals or game plan.
• There’s confusion about individual roles, leading to hesitation in execution.
• Effort varies between games and practices.

How to Address It with Coaches & Teammates:

• Clarify team goals. Ask the coach to define what success looks like beyond just winning.
• Understand your role. Ask, “What is my responsibility on this team, and how can I contribute best?”
• Commit publicly. Set personal and team goals and hold each other accountable.

💬 Conversation Starter:
"Coach, can we have a team meeting to go over our team goals and how each of us contributes to them? I think having clear expectations will help us be more committed."

4. Avoidance of Accountability

What It Looks Like in Sports:

• Teammates don’t hold each other to high standards.
• Players hesitate to call out poor effort.
• The coach is the only one enforcing discipline.

How to Address It with Coaches & Teammates:

• Lead by example. If you want accountability, be willing to be held accountable yourself.
• Create a culture of peer accountability. Encourage teammates to push each other to improve.
• Give and receive feedback. Constructive criticism should be normalized as a sign of respect.

💬 Conversation Starter:
"Coach, can we implement a system where teammates give each other feedback after practices or games? I think it’ll help us push each other to be better."

5. Inattention to Results

What It Looks Like in Sports:

• Players focus more on personal stats than team success.
• Effort declines when individual goals are not met.
• The team lacks a collective identity.

How to Address It with Coaches & Teammates:

• Shift the focus to the team. Emphasize how each player’s role contributes to overall success.
• Celebrate team achievements. Acknowledge hustle plays and selfless acts that help the team.
• Track team progress. Review performance beyond just wins and losses—look at improvement in execution, effort, and teamwork.

💬 Conversation Starter:
"Coach, I think it would be helpful if we tracked more than just points and stats. Can we also highlight team-focused efforts like assists, defensive stops, or hustle plays?"

Final Thoughts

Great teams aren’t just built on talent; they’re built on trust, open communication, commitment, accountability, and a shared focus on results. As an athlete, you have the power to start the conversations that strengthen your team’s culture. By addressing these dysfunctions head-on, you can help create a championship-level team dynamic.

Now, it’s time to ask yourself: What can I do today to make my team better?