Trust is the Crux

Trust is the crux of an effective team.  I've been pondering this for several days.  And looking at its application in a variety of situations.  It's such a simple theory.  So true, yet I don't recall ever hearing it discussed at work or at church or any other place that involves working together toward a particular goal.  It's even applicable at home and with friends!

With this in mind, I was intrigued as I watched some friends have a conversation that involved disagreement between them, yet no one was "shut down" and the conversation continued easily.  I don't know that anyone was swayed to change their mind, but it was apparent that each person was given an opportunity to speak their mind and they were heard.  It was a good picture of what Patrick Lencioni lays out in his book The Five Dysfunctions of a Team.

This book is a good read--definitely so if you lead a team, and really who isn't a team leader in some form or fashion.  The author's theory progresses from the dysfunction of "absence of trust," which leads to "fear of conflict," then to "lack of commitment," the "avoidance of accountability," and finally "inattention to results."  Not a pretty picture, yet I believe we all have probably been in the midst of such a team.  By telling a story, the author shows the progression of his theory as the main character guides her team to a place of health functioning.

"Two thumbs up" for the easy, thought providing read.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Five-Dysfunctions-Team-Leadership/dp/0787960756/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372166040&sr=8-1&keywords=the+five+dysfunctions+of+a+team