Some Tools For Team Building Faith and Light International Formation 2010

2 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.

3  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.

4  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.

5  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).

6  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.

7  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.

8 Some Tools…

9 Commitment  Presence  We each commit to be as fully “ here ” and “ available ” as possible for the sacred work entrusted to us

10  Openness of mind and heart  to one another  to the work at hand  to the movements of God ’ s Spirit

11  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.

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

13  Trust  in God  in my companions  in the collective wisdom of Faith and Light

14  Full participation  willingness and freedom to work together with these people, giving what we can

15  Deal with and work through difficulties  We will face conflicts and difficult situations, working to resolve them in a spirit of loving cooperation.

16 Communication  The human activity that is most crucial and most problematic

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

18 We work so that our communication is:  Open / transparent  Honest  Direct  Respectful  Caring

19  Dialogue  Everyone listening  Everyone speaking  I statements – My experience  Something is going on in me / with me  No talking about others  Clarification  if something is not well understood - ask  This is not clear for me.  Would you please explain?

20 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

21  How am I at this moment? What am I experiencing?  Body, mind, spirit, heart, recent events  Feelings  Mad, sad, glad, afraid …

22  Vulnerability  Hopes  Fears (reassurances)  Hurts (grains of truth)  Dreams

23  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

24  Blocks, barriers, distractions  Is there anything hindering me  Anything making it difficult  Anything “ pulling me away ”  from being more fully present now?  Response  What can be done?  What do you need?  How can we be with you in this?

25  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.

26 Collegiality =  Co-responsibility for the Common Good  We all share responsibility  We consider, seek and work to implement the good of all the members  We own our actions and their consequences  No blaming anyone else. This is ours.  What do we choose to do about it?

27  Decision making  Consensus (usual)  Agreement in the essentials  Is not compromise

28  Discernment by leader (in the absence of consensus)  Only as needed (rare)  Takes in account wisdom and leanings of the Team  Not because of time constraints or convenience  Not to avoid a difficult process

29 Common Ground  A starting place to work through or to deal with  “ Stuck places ”  Disagreements  Is it a matter of “ substance ” or of “ style ”  Principles or preferences  To disagree “ agreeably ”  We agree that we can have differing views, opinions, preferences, styles – that we can disagree about matters that are not essential.

30  Remembering together and returning to  Our common vision, values, vocation, mission  Charter 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 / mandate  What has already been agreed to / decided upon