Five Dysfunctions of a Team - Free Template

The template lays out the full Five Dysfunctions pyramid, with all five levels from absence of trust at the base up to inattention to results at the top. Each level shows the signs of a high-performing team alongside the signs of a dysfunctional one, so you can quickly read where your team sits. Use it as a diagnostic - explore which dysfunctions might be present, look for patterns rather than single symptoms, and decide where to focus first. It works best when the whole team looks at it together. It pairs well with our approach to organisational development, where team dynamics often surface as the starting point for wider change.

Start at the bottom, not the top. The dysfunctions build on each other - there's no point addressing inattention to results if the team doesn't trust each other yet. Work upward from trust.

Use both columns. The signs of high-performing and dysfunctional teams give you a quick read on where your team sits at each level. Look for patterns rather than isolated symptoms.

Don't diagnose alone. The model works best when the team explores it together. A leader's view of the dysfunctions is often different from what the team experiences day to day.