High Functioning Teams Program (The Five Dysfunctions of a Team)
High-performing teams don’t happen by chance—they are built through intentional development.
Yet many teams face invisible barriers that limit collaboration and outcomes. Based on Patrick Lencioni’s Five Dysfunctions of a Team framework, this program helps teams recognise and overcome common derailers, while drawing on Tuckman’s stages of team development (Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, Adjourning) to chart their journey toward cohesion and success.
This program is highly flexible and can be tailored to the unique needs of your team. It can be used to set the foundations for team success during the forming stage, ensuring trust and clarity are established early, or to support groups navigating the challenges of storming, helping them to move through conflict productively and accelerate progress toward high performance. It can also be applied to established teams looking to embed accountability, strengthen collaboration, and sustain results over time.
Through practical, activity-based workshops and workplace application, participants gain deeper insight into their team’s strengths and challenges. They leave with a shared understanding of expectations, clearer alignment on goals, and stronger accountability to each other—building both morale and measurable performance.
What teams develop:
Deeper awareness of personal and team performance levels, opportunities, and challenges.
Trust and psychological safety – the foundation for openness, vulnerability, and collaboration.
Constructive conflict skills – debating ideas productively and addressing issues directly.
Commitment to shared goals – creating clarity and alignment around team priorities.
Accountability practices – holding each other responsible for results and behaviours.
Results orientation – focusing energy on collective success rather than individual agendas.
What’s included
Introduction to the Five Dysfunctions of a Team framework and Tuckman’s stages of team development.
Various customisation options through the inclusion of individual and/or team psychometric assessments, supporting individual and team reflection, alignment and action.
Five coach-led team sessions. Each session includes practical activities to support team’s high functioning. This program can be delivered as a complete series, a condensed workshop, or as part of a broader leadership development initiative.
Progress review (optional). Once the team has the chance to apply concepts and techniques, an additional team session allows for the review and refinement of the approach, supporting ongoing performance.
Program Design
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In this session, participants are introduced to the Five Dysfunctions of a Team model and the Tuckman stages of team development. Together, these frameworks set the foundation for understanding current team behaviours and identifying the path to high performance.
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Team members complete individual psychometric assessment, supporting individual performance self-awareness, and also laying the foundation for team dynamics exploration later in the program. Options include:
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Participants complete a team-focused assessment to establish a clear benchmark of current performance. Options include:
· Team Assessment Report (The Table Group)
· High Performing Team Assessment (HPTA)
A facilitated debrief session explores key insights into trust, communication, accountability and alignment, setting priorities for development across the program.
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In this session, team establish trust through personal history sharing, individual psychometric test insights, and vulnerability-based exercises that set the tone for openness and respect.
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In this session, teams identify conflict preferences, develop team “conflict rules,” and practice productive debate. Activities highlight how to address issues constructively and avoid harmful silence or avoidance.
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In this session, teams set clear collective goals, targets and expected behaviours. Outline expectations and achieve alignment around priorities. Team commits openly to shared objectives, strengthening alignment and resolve.
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In this session, teams engage in structured activities where participants give and receive feedback on strengths and weaknesses. Teams practice peer-to-peer accountability, building confidence to hold each other responsible.
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In this session, teams define success, explore what gets in the way of focusing on results, and establish strategies to maintain attention on collective outcomes.
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Teams may choose to engage in follow-up discussions to evaluate the application of new concepts and techniques, reflecting on growth, celebrating progress, and setting new priorities for continued development.
© Patrick Lencioni
What clients say about the results
Building Trust
“The trust session gave me a better understanding of my teammates and myself. It helped set the tone for how our team could work together.”
“The DISC review was really helpful in understanding personalities and building respect. It laid the foundations of trust.”
Mastering Conflict
“By airing conflict now, we know how to talk to each other with respect. We learned how to disagree without it becoming personal.”
“It showed us what level of conflict is necessary for the team to function.”
Driving Commitment
“The commitment session was the best activity—we now have a clear course goal and everyone is on the same page.”
“It helped us align to shared objectives rather than individual goals.”
Embracing Accountability
“The accountability exercise was great. It got us involved and showed how we can hold ourselves and each other accountable.”
“I found the group strengths and weaknesses session really valuable—it opened my eyes to my own blind spots and those of the team.”
Focusing on Results
“The results session wrapped it all up perfectly. It helped us focus on what we want to achieve together, and what could derail us if we lose focus.”
“It guided us to set goals, attitudes and boundaries so we can stay on track, even under pressure.”