{"id":556,"date":"2013-07-07T05:19:50","date_gmt":"2013-07-07T05:19:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.resourcezoneinternational.com\/?p=556"},"modified":"2019-06-24T01:22:23","modified_gmt":"2019-06-24T01:22:23","slug":"characteristics-of-an-effective-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.resourcezone.com.au\/?p=556","title":{"rendered":"Characteristics of Effective Ministry Teams"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Charactistics<\/a><\/p>\n

What is it that makes a team? A team is a number of people who are committed to work together toward a common vision. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results. Here are some insights into the \u2018Characteristics of an Effective Ministry Team\u2019 from people who have been working in team-based ministries:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Clear purpose<\/b>.\u00a0 The vision, mission, goal, or task of the team has been defined and is now accepted by everyone.\u00a0 There is an action plan.<\/li>\n
  2. Informality.<\/b>\u00a0 The climate tends to be informal, comfortable, and relaxed, with no obvious tensions or signs of boredom.<\/li>\n
  3. Participation.<\/b>\u00a0 There is much discussion and everyone is encouraged to be involved.<\/li>\n
  4. Listening.<\/b>\u00a0 The members use effective listening techniques such as questioning, paraphrasing, and summarizing to get out ideas.<\/li>\n
  5. Civilized disagreement.<\/b>\u00a0 There is disagreement, but the team is comfortable with this and shows no signs of avoiding, smoothing over, or suppressing conflict.<\/li>\n
  6. Consensus decisions.<\/b>\u00a0 For important decisions, the goal is substantial but not necessarily unanimous agreement through open discussion of everyone\u2019s ideas, avoiding formal voting or easy compromises.<\/li>\n
  7. Open communication.<\/b>\u00a0 Team members feel free to express their feelings on the tasks as well as on the group\u2019s operation. There are few hidden agendas.\u00a0 Communication takes place outside of meetings.<\/li>\n
  8. Clear roles and work assignments.<\/b>\u00a0 There are clear expectations about the roles played by each team member.\u00a0 When action is taken, clear assignments are made, accepted, and carried out.\u00a0 Work is fairly distributed among team members.<\/li>\n
  9. Shared leadership.<\/b>\u00a0 While the team has a formal leader, leadership functions shift from time to time depending upon the circumstances, the needs of the group, and the sills of the members.\u00a0 The formal leader models the appropriate behavior and helps establish positive norms.<\/li>\n
  10. External relations.<\/b>\u00a0 The team spends time developing key outside relationships, mobilizing resources, and building credibility with important players in other parts of the ministry.<\/li>\n
  11. Style diversity.<\/b>\u00a0 The team has a broad spectrum of team-player types.<\/li>\n
  12. Self-assessment.<\/b>\u00a0 Periodically, the team stops to examine how well it is functioning and what may be interfering with its effectiveness.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     
    \n\u00a0The Role of Team Leader
    \n<\/b>As a team leader it is important to make sure the team\u2019s performance is monitored. This will apply to both the overall effectiveness of the group, and that of the individuals within it.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Keep the purpose, goals, and approach relevant and meaningful.<\/b>\u00a0 While the leader must be a full working team member, he or she must also have the big picture in view and keep the team on track.<\/li>\n
    2. Build commitment and confidence.<\/b>\u00a0 Provide positive, constructive feedback that will inspire individual as well as group success.<\/li>\n
    3. Strengthen the mix and level of skills.<\/b>\u00a0 Be vigilant to ensure that the team possesses the whole range of skills it needs.\u00a0 Promote training and personal growth.\u00a0 Shift assignments and role patterns to maximize individual development.<\/li>\n
    4. Manage relationship with outsiders, including removing obstacles.<\/b>\u00a0 Maximize the contacts throughout the rest of the ministry.\u00a0 Effectively communicate the team\u2019s purpose, goals, and approach to anyone who might help or hinder it.<\/li>\n
    5. Create opportunities for others on the team.<\/b>\u00a0 Don\u2019t grab all the best opportunities, assignments, and credit.\u00a0 Share the glory.<\/li>\n
    6. Do real work.<\/b>\u00a0 Everyone on a real team, including the leader, does real work in roughly equivalent amounts.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

       
      \n\"\"
      \nColin is the Director of ResourceZone International, a ministry that publishes a wide range of quality resources. Colin is responsible for the research and development side of this ministry. He has thirty years of experience as a pastor, lecturer and consultant\/coach to consultants, coaches and leadership of a wide range of organisations. He is a recognized authority in areas like coaching, leadership development, team building, organizational health and growth. He can be reached at       info@resourcezoneinternational.com<\/a><\/p>\n