Some Tools For Team Building

Faith and Light International Formation 2010

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Preamble

God calls us, and entrusts this work to us, together.

Our primary work is to love one another as we have been loved.

Our way begins with becoming community together -developing and sustaining personal relationships through trust, sharing, reciprocity and support.

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The quality of our relationships either promotes or goes against our mission; either attracts or pushes others away from Faith and Light.

Getting tasks completed or decisions made is secondary to how we work together – to how we live this responsibility together according to our shared values.

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A crucial quality necessary for any leader in Faith and Light is the ability to work as a member of a Team. This ability is shown through each Team member’s humility and commitment to work together for the good of all.

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The Team has greater wisdom, strength, giftedness and ability to fulfill our mission than any one of us alone.

We choose efficacy (doing a task well) over efficiency (accomplishing a task using the least amount of time, effort, cost and resources).

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It is possible to accomplish more, with a better group “spirit,” by being truly present and being our brother’s and sister’s “keeper” even though it will require more time and effort.

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We all share responsibility for the life and growth of Faith and Light. What we do with this responsibility differs according to the role that we have at the moment.

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Some Tools…

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Commitment

Presence

We each commit to be as fully “here” and “available” as possible for the sacred work entrusted to us

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Openness of mind and heart

to one another

to the work at hand

to the movements of God’s Spirit

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Mutuality

to share from what I have been given and to welcome what others have been given

this is not mine; this is not yours; this is ours.

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Reliability

We will be there, accepting our share of the work and doing what we agree to do.

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Trust

in God

in my companions

in the collective wisdom of Faith and Light

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Full participation

willingness and freedom to work together with these people, giving what we can

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Deal with and work through difficulties

We will face conflicts and difficult situations, working to resolve them in a spirit of loving cooperation.

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Communication

The human activity that is most crucial and most problematic

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I commit to share with you about whatever affects our relationship and work together – feelings, concerns, ideas, desires, preferences, gratitude and sense of accomplishment.

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We work so that our communication is:

Open / transparent

Honest

Direct

Respectful

Caring

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DialogueEveryone listening Everyone speaking

I statements – My experience Something is going on in me / with meNo talking about others

Clarification if something is not well understood - ask

This is not clear for me. Would you please explain?

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Check-In

What do we need to know for us to be together and to better work together?

The objective is to help us to be more fully present to one another and to the work at hand

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How am I at this moment? What am I experiencing?

Body, mind, spirit, heart, recent events

FeelingsMad, sad, glad, afraid…

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Vulnerability

HopesFears (reassurances)Hurts (grains of truth)Dreams

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Comfort level of intimacy

I decide how much detail I feel comfortable with sharing

Building Community

By sharing the gift of ourselves as we are

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Blocks, barriers, distractions

Is there anything hindering meAnything making it difficult Anything “pulling me away”

from being more fully present now?

ResponseWhat can be done?What do you need?How can we be with you in this?

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Appreciations

Saying aloud things that have been well done

Recent experience about others and one’s self

I really liked the way… This was very clear and well presented. I feel good about how that turned out.

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Collegiality =

Co-responsibility for the Common Good

We all share responsibilityWe consider, seek and work to implement the

good of all the membersWe own our actions and their consequences

No blaming anyone else. This is ours. What do we choose to do about it?

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Decision making

Consensus (usual)

Agreement in the essentials

Is not compromise

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Discernment by leader (in the absence of consensus)

Only as needed (rare)Takes in account wisdom and leanings of the TeamNot because of time constraints or convenienceNot to avoid a difficult process

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Common GroundA starting place to work through or to deal

with“Stuck places”Disagreements

Is it a matter of “substance” or of “style”Principles or preferencesTo disagree “agreeably”

We agree that we can have differing views, opinions, preferences, styles – that we can disagree about matters that are not essential.

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Remembering together and returning to

Our common vision, values, vocation, missionCharter and Constitution

How does this fit with or “promote” who we are, what we believe, what we hope to do

The facts (not opinions or interpretations of the facts)

Priorities / mandateWhat has already been agreed to / decided upon