A healthy team is a high-performing team. Learn how to run The Five Dysfunctions exercise in Performance Scoring to build trust, resolve conflict, and improve collaboration.
Healthy teams aren’t built by accident—they’re cultivated through open communication, trust, and a willingness to address weaknesses head-on. One of the most effective tools we’ve seen for this is Patrick Lencioni’s Five Dysfunctions of a Team model.
At Performance Scoring, we’ve adapted this framework into a practical exercise you can run during your quarterly or annual planning meetings to strengthen team health.
The Five Dysfunctions:
- Absence of Trust – Without trust, team members hold back.
- Fear of Conflict – Teams avoid necessary debates.
- Lack of Commitment – Decisions are made without buy-in.
- Avoidance of Accountability – People hesitate to call out issues.
- Inattention to Results – Individual priorities overshadow team success.
How to Run the Exercise
- Preparation – Have each leadership team member read The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni before the meeting.
- Scoring – During the session, ask each person to rate the team (1–10) on each dysfunction, with 1 being weakest and 10 strongest.
- Discussion – Review scores together and focus on areas scoring below 7 or 8. Discuss specific examples and challenges.
- Action Planning – Identify concrete steps—potential Rocks, To-Dos, or coaching opportunities—to improve scores. Document these in your task management module so they’re visible and trackable.
- Repeat and Track Progress – Revisit the exercise in future planning sessions and compare results using your ScoreBoards.
Why It Works
This exercise creates a safe, structured way to address team weaknesses without finger-pointing. Over time, teams that consistently work on trust, healthy conflict, commitment, accountability, and results develop stronger collaboration and higher performance.
Research from Wiley Workplace Learning Solutions found that teams with high trust and accountability outperform peers by 50% in meeting objectives (source).
How Performance Scoring Supports the Process
Our platform ensures the Five Dysfunctions exercise doesn’t become a “one-and-done” conversation. From capturing scores in meeting notes to tracking improvement through coaching modules, we keep team health visible all year long.
Make Team Health a Priority
If you want your leadership team operating at its best, it’s time to put the Five Dysfunctions framework into practice—and make it a recurring part of your business rhythm.
Book a demo to see how Performance Scoring helps teams turn this model into lasting results.
