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| Team Presenting Their Findings |
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| Class and Panel of Executives |
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In May and June 2003 we had the opportunity to develop and present
a course on the management of teams at the SMU Cox School of Business. Forty-eight students in the Professional
MBA program attended this seven week course and focused on the critical success factors of successful management teams.
Eight teams of six individuals each were formed and given the assignment
to identify an example of each of the five dysfunctions of a team as defined in Patrick Lencioni's book by the same name. Each team
was then challenged to develop action plans to overcome the dysfunctions encountered and, where feasible, implement
the plan. Each team then developed a report detailing their experiences as a team and summarized the examples of dysfunctional
teams that they had investigated.
On the final evening of the course, forty examples of teamwork
dysfunctions were presented by the teams along with the action plans they had developed. A panel of senior executives
and experts in teamwork matters listened to the teams' presentations and shared their comments with the teams. The class
was surprised when Patrick Lencioni, the author of "The Five Dysfunctions of a Team" joined the panel of judges. (Find
Patrick in the picture of the class above! Hint -- he is seated to Peter Sorenson's left. Hint 2 -- Peter
is the one in the front role making a point.)
Issues of trust, collaboration, focus, commitment, and accountability
were covered in depth. In nearly half of the examples, the class member who brought forward the example was able to
follow the suggestions of their class team and had improved their business team situation. The results of the student's
efforts were dramatic in several situations.
In most cases, the class teams also experienced one or more of the
five dysfunctions as they proceeded to complete the class assignments. These challenges and the teams' descriptions
of how they dealt with the dysfunctions gave all the participants in the class an opportunity to prepare themselves for involvement
in future teams.
We welcome the opportunity to visit with others who have the opportunity
to present a similar teamwork course and share with them the tricks, traps, and tools we used and experienced in presenting
this powerful teamwork program. This program also enabled us to develop the powerful "Dynamic Team Leadership" program that can be experienced by a corporate management team.
For more information please visit our contact page and drop us a note.
