Just Released! Small Group Insights DVD Leader’s Kit! Act now for your chance to receive a copy of Small Group Insights! To celebrate the release of this new resource we are hosting a week-long DVD giveaway! (For more about how the SGI Kit can transform the relationships in your group or team, read my Post, Real Relationships: Real Groups & Teams).
To be eligible for a free copy, comment below by answering this question: How would improving the relational dynamic of your team increase its effectiveness? There will be multiple winners per day! You can also follow me on Twitter or “Like” Dr. Bill Donahue on FB for more chances to win!
The SGI assessment has been used with universities, hospitals, churches and businesses. It is a proven tool that we have refined for greater use. So we added a simple leader’s DVD to help guide a group or team toward health and productivity. The multiple-page SGI results (sent immediately to each person online) provide awesome feedback about how each member of the team connects with others. This insight into each person, combined with information on how to work better as a team, will create an authentic environment where you can build healthy relationships and get the mission done more effectively.
Respond below for your chance to receive a free copy!
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#1 by Adam P. on January 20, 2012 - 1:09 pm
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Honestly, I love my team but we are almost all work part time jobs as well as our church responsibilities, so we often aren’t together on a routine basis (except weekend gatherings of course). Sometimes this leads to some fractured decision making, and not great communications through the different areas. I would love to see ways to increase our relational dynamic to make us a stronger team together.
Thanks for sharing Bill!
#2 by Jeff on January 21, 2012 - 8:48 am
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This is a very good question that should be continuously asked… whether or not one is trying to actually win something.
I think, in essence, that right now improving the relational dynamic on our team is probably the greatest need. Possibly. On one side of the coin I do not think that the overall church leadership really understands what each of us can really do and can accomplish. Then on the other side of the coin, there is this seemingly traditionalism that has set in with the mind-set of “we will look at this,” but never, ever really doing anything about it.
Then, of course, there is the overarching plain that the entire team has went into a ‘static’ mode and is far from ‘dynamic.’ So much so that even now we have members of the SS/SG Leadership Team that is ready and wanting to leave the team because of the lack of doing anything, the lack of overall communication, and various other things.
So overall… I think something like this would help to bridge the gap between the overall church leadership and the SS/SG leadership first and foremost. It is here, in this gap, that the breakdown is occurring. So really before launching the deal within the Small group leadership realm, launching it in the overall church leadership realm is the first area.
Just a thought…
Blessings to you all for the work you continue to do in joining Him on His Mission!
#3 by Bill Donahue on January 24, 2012 - 9:42 am
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I get that challenge Adam. So it might require an deep dive versus more regular connections. SOme of the serving teams I work with take a half-day or overnight retreat and build the relational dynamic. Then, in the week-to-week connections (which are more fragmented) they can leverage the progress from the retreat, and go deeper faster. If you only have 15 minutes here and there, at least there is some relational depth. Takes forever to build that when gatherings are short or infrequent or when attendees vary week to week. Best to you and our team!
#4 by Bill Donahue on January 24, 2012 - 9:46 am
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I think you have several things going on: the lack of relational glue, the lack of bold leadership and the strategic challenge of integrating the process with the content. You can use this tool to build the communication dynamic, but the next step is assessing the leadership reality and the strategy that flows from that. It is hard. Are the right people on the bus? Is it the right bus? Where is it going? Why are you going there? Those are the larger questions.
Maybe some day I can help with these issues.
Best to you, bill.
#5 by Jim McFarland on January 24, 2012 - 2:45 pm
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How would improving the relational dynamic of your team increase its effectiveness?
To the extent we reduce our “hidden selves”, as in the Jo-Hari Window, we allow others to know more of us in simple ways. the more known we are as leaders, the more likely the relational dynamic will improve. If the premise of small groups is about relationships among believers, in particular, then not only will the team be more effective but the participants will be encouraged to deepen their individual and famililar relational dynamics.
#6 by Bill Donahue on January 27, 2012 - 7:58 am
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Yes — that is a great tool — thanks! I have used it and the results are profound.
#7 by Christin on January 29, 2012 - 11:20 am
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I am member of the church, Catalyst LTM and at this church we have Fusion groups, which is basically our small group ministry. I’ve been serving as one of the Fusion Group Coordinators alongside with one of the brothers in the church. Our job is to shepherd the Fusion group facilitators. Some of the groups have a great group dynamic and others lack focus. I’m going to answer your question by applying it toward the fusion groups. Increasing the relational dynamic in our groups would ultimately encourage growth of the ministry. We talk about wanting to see more people come to our church and be involved in our ministries, but we need to improve not only our intergroup communication, but our interpersonal communication as well. I also facilitate one of these groups and sometimes I get so frustrated because we’ve veered so far off of how we started. I am much younger than the people I lead and a shaky group dynamic really hurts my confidence level. Sometimes it’s really hard for me to address many issues regarding group dynamics because I feel people do look down on me at times because I am younger, but I have to keep on remembering 1 Timothy 4:12. My goal for this year is to give the facilitators a bit of formal training in communication so they feel more confident leading their fusion groups.
#8 by Bill Donahue on February 6, 2012 - 4:13 pm
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Christin – hang in there! I am aware of such dynamics and unfortunately many people did not grow up with a good relational dynamic or process at home, work or in the church, so you are fighting up hill. This tool will help — i will send you a copy — but you also might want to get ReGroup — the DVD clips and coaching address relational issues, dynamics, etc. Features Henry Cloud and John Townsend and me. I cannot send you one but is worth the investment. Has a year’s worth of training for your group to view as a group, most of it in 10-minute segments so it does not take over the meeting. It lets us coach your group and then you do not have the be the bad leader! We do it for you.
Let me know how I can help you guys more formally if ever. Best to you! – Bill
Shoot me your address for a free SG Insights. drbilldonahue at gmail