
18. How Dysfunctional Is Your Team?
At The Table with Patrick Lencioni
Identifying dysfunctions: inability to commit
Conflict enables teams to overcome the dysfunction of the inability to commit to a decision. Commitment is key because without conflict and input from team members, there is no buy-in to the ultimate decision. Teams need to have conflict that leads to open discussions and authentic engagement in order to reach a decision that everyone can support, even if they initially disagree. Consensus should not be the goal, as it means that team members think too similarly. The focus should be on leaving the table committed to the decision, even if individuals would have made a different choice. Great teams prioritize commitment, even if they do not always have consensus, and they are able to disagree and commit. Commitment is critical for teams to function effectively and without it, the quality of decisions and the overall success of the organization are compromised.