Teamwork & Conflict Resolution in the Christian Union

Teamwork & Conflict ResolutionLeaders Training @ FOCUS Centre, Kasarani

Session Outline

•Understanding Teamwork and Conflict•Difference Between Teams and Groups•What the Bible Says about Teamwork and

Conflict•Stages of Team Development•Sources of Conflict in the CU•How to Resolve Conflicts•Benefits of Teamwork•Characteristics of Highly Performing Teams

WHAT IS TEAMWORK?

• (Webster’s Dictionary) Teamwork is a joint action by a group of people, in which each person subordinates his or her individual interests and opinions to the unity and efficiency of the group.

WHAT IS CONFLICT?

•We define conflict as a disagreement through which the parties involved perceive a threat to their needs, interests or concerns.

Difference between a Group/TeamA GROUP A TEAM

A group is a collection of individuals who coordinate their individual efforts.

A team is a group of people who share a common team purpose and a number of challenging goals

Focus on individual goals Focus on team goals

Produce individual work products

Produce collective work products

Concern with one's own outcome and challenges

Concern with outcomes of everyone and challenges the team faces

A GROUP A TEAM

Purpose, goals, approach to work shaped by leader

Purpose, goals, approach to work shaped by team leader with team members

Group building can literally take only a few minutes

Team building can take years

Groups don’t necessarily have agoal or an objective

Teams are formed with intent, a goal or amission

Individual members of a group often have the ability to walk away from the group when their services or input become unnecessary.

A team member's absence can seriously hamper the abilities of other team members to perform effectively, so it is not uncommon for individual members to form an exceptionally strong allegiance to the team as a whole.

A GROUP A TEAMWithin a group, each individual is preoccupied with his/her own task and little is known or understood about the tasks of the other group members

Within teams, the members are aware that everyone contributes to the end result and that acquiring insight into each other’s tasks can lead to even better results

Within a group, when conflicts arise, the members are often quick to point the finger at other members, and expect the leader to resolve the situation

Within teams, the members feel a bond with each other and take responsibility for the collaboration. Instead of talking about each other, they talk with each other, and the leader is only called in if conflicts threaten to escalate

In a group, members think they are grouped together for administrative purposes only. Individuals sometimes cross purpose with others.

In a team, members recognise their independence and understand both personal and team goals are best accomplished with mutual support. Time is not wasted struggling over "Turf" or attempting personal gain at the expense of others.

In a group, members tend to focus on themselves because they are not sufficiently involved in planning the group's objectives.

In a team, members feel a sense of ownership for their tasks and unit, because they are committed to values-based common goals that they helped establish.

Team members have:

•A common purpose and clear goals•The necessary skills and resources•A common approach to work•The willingness to share information•Trust and support in each other•The ability to work through conflict•The willingness to take responsibility for team

actions

What the Bible Says…

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NIV)• (9) Two are better than one, because they have

a good return for their labor: (10) If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. (11) Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? (12) Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

What the Bible Says…Philippians 2:2-8 (NIV)• (2) Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any

comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. (3) Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, (4) not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

• (5) In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: (6_ Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; (7) rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. (8) And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

• (9) Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, (10) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, (11) and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.


Ephesians 4:16 (NIV)• (16) From him the whole body, joined and held

together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.


Proverbs 27:17 (NIV)• (17) As iron sharpens iron, so one person

sharpens another.


1 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV)• (10) I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,[a] in

the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.


Romans 15:5-6 (NIV)• (5) May the God who gives endurance and

encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, (6) so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.


John 17:20-23 (NIV)• (20) “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for

those who will believe in me through their message, (21) that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (22) I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— (23) I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.


Psalm 133:1 (NIV)• (1) How good and pleasant it is when God’s

people live together in unity!


1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (NIV)• (6) I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but

God has been making it grow. (7) So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

Stages of Team Development

•Forming•Storming•Norming•Performing•Transforming

Common Sources of Conflict

What the Bible Says…James 4:1-2 (NIV)• (1) What causes fights and quarrels among

you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? (2) You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.

How to Resolve Conflicts

What the Bible Says…1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV)• (4) Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy,

it does not boast, it is not proud. (5) It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. (6) Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. (7) It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.


What the Bible Says…Matthew 18:15-17 (NIV)• (15) “If your brother or sister[a] sins,[b] go and point

out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. (16) But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’[c] (17) If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.


What the Bible Says…Matthew 5:38-39 (NIV)• (38) “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for

eye, and tooth for tooth.’[a] (39) But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.


What the Bible Says…Ephesians 4:26 (NIV)• (26) “In your anger do not sin”[a]: Do not let the

sun go down while you are still angry,


2 Ways of Resolving Conflicts:Adversarial Approach•Seeing each other as the problem, the source of

the conflict & focusing on our differences


Cooperative Approach•Understanding our differences& working

together to find common ground

Benefits of Teamwork

•Sharing of information and ideas •Meeting psychological needs of people for being

with others •Specialization is possible • Improved learning and decision-making •Synergy (1 + 1 = 3) • Individual biases can be overcome

Ten Characteristics of Highly Performing Teams1. Clear Goals2. Participative Leadership3. Positive Atmosphere4. Balanced Participation5. Defined Roles6. Cooperative Relationships7. Valued Diversity8. Managed Conflict9. Open and Clear Communication10. Effective Decision Making

Teamwork & Conflict Resolution in the Christian Union

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