Although parish teams have talents, capabilities and charisms that are unique to their mission, they are very likely similar to most teams in how they develop. Much has been written about team development but the scenario for how teams form over time follows a fairly predictable pattern.
At the start, you likely come together and sit around, looking at each other but not knowing how to get started. Over time, you get to know each other a little better – both the good and the bad. Pleasantries and patience can begin to fade once the team starts to organize. Frustration and intolerance with others may interfere with harmony and progress.
Eventually as you start to understand the capabilities and flaws of your teammates you know what you can expect in terms of performance from each person. This allows you to figure out how best to work with each other – how to divide tasks and responsibilities.
As this becomes clear, the next stage begins. Here you learn how to work with strengths and weaknesses of each person to coordinate a larger effort and obtain best results. This is when the team is operating at its best. Finally, as the project or effort comes to a close, you disband. You may stay in touch with some others based on future projects or possibly in a social setting but in general, the team tends to break up.
Each of these phases of team development have been identified and appropriately named. The first stage, sitting around and getting to know the others, is often called “forming”. The second stage, when personalities and misunderstandings dominate and interfere with function is called “storming.” Stage 3 is when you start to accept limitations and better understand what team members are capable of or can do best – this is frequently referred to as “norming”. After that in stage 4, the team is operating at its best. Everyone is doing their job and contributing as expected to the overall success of the team’s efforts. This stage is called “performing”. Finally, after the project is complete and no further action is required from the team, the team disbands – often called “adjourning”.
It is often useful for the leader (pastor) to understand this team dynamic and share it with the group in the early stages of development. This helps the team members “normalize” their interactions and efforts which can often shorten, but not eliminate, some of the earlier potentially problematic stages.
Obviously, each team will have its own character and personality but it falls to the leader to better understand that and work with the team as a whole unit. This will help facilitate cohesiveness and bonding rather than a group of individuals just co-existing. In the next post we will continue to look further into the stages of team development. We will go into more detail and commentary on each stage.