The Joy of Conflict: the Five Dysfunctions of a Team

I don't typically read management / self help literature. The few times I've tried I tune out in Chapter 1, usually after the first venn diagram or matrix or list of x ways to do y.  Despite these past failures, on the recommendation of a colleague I waded into The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable, by Patrick Lencioni.  Well written, slim, and brisk, it focuses on the simple fact that in organizations, teamwork matters. A talented, supportive, and accountable team offers a company a formidable competitve advantage, while companies can fly apart if dysfunctional team dynamics are allowed to take hold.  Without retelling the entire book, the interesting bit for me was the discussion of trust and conflict.  Conflict in a team can be healthy and is an indicator of trust among colleagues.  This resonated with me. The most effective groups I have worked with interact with candor and transparency.  While consensus is rarely acheived, the airing of differences and working through to resolution binds team members and promotes buy-in for even the toughest decisions.  While it can be challenging to manage constructive conflict, the alternative - silent disengagement - is far worse.