This week we're sharing another "classic" FAST memo, from the early days of our ministry. It deals with the importance of healthy small group communication, and how to cultivate it. It is updated from one of the earliest versions of Team Tactics, going all the way back to the year 2000.



Good communication is central to a healthy and successful team. Most team interactions, in fact, involve communication--whether you are discussing a lesson, checking up on each other’s verses, making decisions as a group, or praying conversationally. When that communication is effective--the team will be beneficial. Where it is not, the team will suffer. To strengthen your team, take a careful look at the communication patterns that take place in your group--and work at improving them.



Listed below, you will find a number of positive and negative communication styles--which are either a blessing or curse to a team. As you read through these lists, evaluate your own participation in the team. Which roles do you most often use? Are there additional positive communication styles you need to cultivate? And what about the negative roles--do you, on occasion, employ any of these? What can you do to eliminate those patterns?

And what about the other members of the team? Who consistently demonstrates each of the positive styles? How can you encourage them to continue in this? Are there team members who consistently manifest one or more of the negative communication roles? What are some tactful ways to help discourage this going forward? These questions deserve careful and sustained attention.

Most people tend to engage in just a handful of these communication roles, depending on their personality and background. But communication skills can change. By expanding the positive roles we use, and avoiding the negative ones, we will become an increasingly valuable member of our team.

Blessings

Listed below are 9 communication roles that contribute to a successful team. Do your best to encourage and cultivate these.

B	Initiator: An initiator proposes new ideas or approaches to various situations, thus starting a team down a productive, problem-solving path.
L	Contributor: A contributor tries to provide information, suggestions, or supplemental resources that may be useful to a team.
E	Questioner: A questioner asks probing questions to tease out insights and clarifications that help the team explore topics from different angles.
S	Evaluator: An evaluator attempts to evaluate the merits of a suggestion or plan the team is considering, summing up what has been stated thus far.
S	Encourager: An encourager expresses appreciation for, and affirms the value of, contributions by team members, and invites more participation, particularly from quiet members.
I	Challenger: A challenger exhorts the group, or an individual, to strive to reach their very best, and not settle for something less.
N	Recorder: A recorder keeps track of ideas and decisions made by the team, and reminds the team of these things when appropriate.
G	Expediter: An expediter tries to keep the team moving forward, and on course, especially when the team gets side-tracked or distracted.
S	Prompter: A prompter shares a relevant verse of Scripture to either confirm or call into question some idea, plan, or practice of the team.

Curses

Here are six roles that hinder effective communication in a team. These should be avoided and discouraged.

C	Aggressor: An aggressor speaks negatively of another person on the team, or expresses hostility towards that member in some way.
U	Blocker: A blocker tends to resist suggestions or plans put forward by the team, and manifests a stubborn, withdrawn, or negative attitude.
R	Distractor: A distractor is often carrying on quiet side conversations, drawing the attention of others away from the main communication taking place in the group.
S	Dominator: A dominator tries to manipulate group communication, by suppressing certain contributions or attempting to control the flow of conversation. Team leaders especially need to guard against this.
E	Talker: A talker is one that talks excessively, frequently getting the team off task, or bringing up unrelated and irrelevant issues.
S	Non-talker: The non-talker remains silent most of the time, contributing very little to the team, and its discussion.

Don't just count on the team leader to facilitate positive communication--it must be a shared effort. Every member of your group must work together to make the communication of your team as profitable and productive as possible. A team that does this will be well on its way to experiencing the kind of fellowship God wants for every team. The kind that leads to real life transformation.



Communication styles are not changed overnight, but with patience and effort a team can develop a positive, healthy atmosphere that is conducive to rapid spiritual growth. Press on!

Comments

How important is good communication in building a team? Which of these communication roles do you find yourself using most often? Are there specific roles you need to guard against? Or perhaps cultivate and develop? Share your thoughts in the comments below...

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