SUDANESE COMMUNITY CHURCH OF TORONTO

Commitment:

My goal to join the Church team is defined by a team work. I would like to be committed to team work, learn from one another and share whatever skills I have to make a difference in my community and to see how I can be a blessing to others.

As defined below according to my research on teamwork, tight united team is a group of competent individuals who care deeply about each other. They are sincerely committed to their mission, and are highly motivated to combing their energy and expertise to achieve a common objective. From our observation and studies on teamwork in the workplaces and churches, we have found three primary conditions that have to be met in order to attain higher levels of team performance and member satisfaction:

1. Resources and Commitment

2. Ownership and Heart

3. Learning

These three conditions are the heart and soul of teamwork. These conditions are not a blueprint. Each group is unique, and the specifics and details of teamwork have to be worked out separately. Let's look closer at number one - Resources and Commitment.

The Dictionary defines teamwork as the actions of individuals, brought together for a common purpose or goal, which subordinates the needs of the individual to the needs of the group. In essence, each person on the team puts aside his or her individual needs to work towards the larger group objective. The interactions among the members and the work they complete is called teamwork.

Many management groups define teamwork as a group of individuals passionately committed to their end goal. When groups have common goals, teamwork is essential to success. Teachers expect teamwork among students and provide them with group projects so that they can learn teamwork skills. Employers expect individuals to function effectively on various teams and most organizations convene teams to tackle problems or projects. Therefore, it’s important to learn teamwork skills, even if you prefer to work independently.

Teamwork Skills: What does teamwork look like in action? First, group members focus on the goal. People put aside personal likes and dislikes and petty grievances to get the job done. Team members show passion for the project and each contributes to its success.

Skills necessary for good teamwork include:

• Respect for individual contributions

• Putting aside individual glory

• Consensus building

• Clear communication

• Persuasive speech

• Compromise

All too often we compete for personal rewards at the expense of others. We act as though our department is in a race with other departments, and we take our eye off the real competition. The fact of the matter is that we have found few organizations that are committed enough to base some of the reward system on teamwork and make it a priority. It seems that in earlier generations it wasn't a big problem and teamwork was naturally rewarding. People on the farms had to cooperate to survive. Successful crops and survival of the livestock depended on joining the efforts of many. Barns and homes were constructed as a result of teamwork, only we called it being neighborly.

Amazing things could be accomplished today if we could get members and leaders to trust and commit to the teamwork process of joint problem solving, consensus decision making and shared leadership and win/win conflict resolution.

contributed by Joy Longa