Have you ever worked on a team that was dysfunctional? That could not seem to work together or find a way to collaborate? In your career, chances are you have experienced this as part of a team or as a leader. You have also probably experienced the alternative…
Strong, cohesive teams build strong organizations. When teams work well together, they make better decisions, leverage diverse skills and perspectives, and avoid unnecessary distractions like office politics and miscommunication. But what makes a team truly effective?
The Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team® program, based on Patrick Lencioni’s bestselling work, not only provides a structured approach to building high-performing teams, it also identifies the five behaviors that make a team more effective: fostering trust, encouraging healthy conflict, driving commitment, embracing accountability, and focusing on results. When teams consistently practice these behaviors, they become more engaged, aligned, and productive.
The Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team®
The Five Behaviors® framework identifies the key traits that set strong teams apart:
Trust One Another: When team members are genuinely transparent and honest with one another it forms a safe environment that creates and builds vulnerability-based trust.
Engage in Conflict Around Ideas: With trust, team members can engage in unfiltered, constructive debate about ideas.
Commit to Decisions: When team members are able to offer opinions and debate ideas, they feel heard and respected, and will be more likely to commit to decisions.
Hold One Another Accountable: Once everyone is committed to a clear path of action, they will be more willing to hold one another accountable.
Focus on Achieving Collective Results: The ultimate goal is the achievement of results, unlocked through implementing the model’s principles of Trust, Conflict, Commitment & Accountability.
How does this model help overcome teamwork challenges?
Building an organizational culture that is positive, collaborative, and cohesive promotes teamwork through an ongoing, takes conscious effort. By taking this training and following this model, your team will move from being a collection of individuals to a team by making the choice to actively follow The Five Behaviours®. Like anything else, a cultural transformation does not happen overnight, nor does it happen by chance.
The model provides teams with a way to speak a common language, whether they are not working at all well together, or whether they can work together well in some areas. Some common barriers to teamwork include:
- Lack of trust: Teams must build psychological safety where openness and vulnerability are encouraged.
- Fear of conflict: Healthy debate leads to better decisions. Teams should embrace productive discussions rather than avoid disagreements.
- Unclear goals: Without clear objectives, teams struggle to stay aligned. Commitment to a shared direction is essential.
- Lack of accountability: Teams must hold each other responsible for outcomes to maintain high standards.
- Focus on individual success over team results: A strong team culture values collaboration and shared achievements over personal gains.
By actively practicing The Five Behaviors®, teams can overcome these challenges and build a more collaborative, effective culture.
Implementing The Five Behaviors® in Your Organization
The Five Behaviors® program provides practical training to help teams apply these principles. It is a model that levels up your team and provides a competitive advantage – aligning your team on goals, increasing efficiency, promoting better decision-making, and helping engage your team.
As Patrick Lencioni said:
“If you can get all the people in an organization rowing in the same direction, you can dominate any industry, in any market, against any competition, at any time.”
Is your team ready to take the next step? The Five Behaviors® program provides the structure and strategies to help teams reach their full potential. X5 Management’s Accredited Facilitators specialize in guiding teams through this transformation. Contact us today to get started.
Recommended Reading
If you find the model interesting, we recommend reading The FIVE Dysfunctions of a TEAM, a leadership fable by Patrick Lencioni. Lencioni developed The Five Behaviors® Model to empower teams to rethink their approach to teamwork and shape new behaviours, taking teams and their organizations to the next level.
About the Author: Kris Schinke, Vice President – Integration
for-profit. She has a passion for inspiring and coaching others and believes a positive work culture is key for business growth and sustainability. She is adept in training, leadership and promoting teamwork. Kris is delighted to be working with X5 Management, not only to support valued clients but also in her executive role supporting the ongoing business growth, both internally and externally.
She is an avid volunteer and loves to donate time and effort to a variety of organizations.
A proponent of personal development, Kris holds an MBA from Athabasca University, her Distinguished Toastmaster designation from Toastmasters International and her Life Coaching Certification from New Skills Academy. She also attended Harvard Business School (A Culture of Health in Business) and Norquest College (Inclusion at Work, Business Economics).
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