What’s the Difference Between a Group and a Team?
by Ircel Harrison
Groups and teams have much in common. They are both made up of people. Although we often use the terms group and team interchangeably, there is a difference between the two. How can we differentiate between them?
The primary focus of a group is personal growth and development. People in groups provide support for each other as they pursue their individual goals. Some examples are accountability groups, Bible study groups, and support groups. Groups may be either formal or informal in structure. Small groups may have been part of the church for generations, but they continue to be on the “growing edge” for Christian formation and discipleship.
On the other hand, teams are primarily focused on task achievement. Teams go by many names--committee, staff, ministry team, work group, task force--but they tend to be task-oriented, focusing the resources of participants on a specific goal. Teams are often parts of a formal organizational structure with specific assignments or goals assigned to them. Individuals are on the team because it is part of their job, they believe in the work of the organization, or they want to work with others to accomplish something important to them.
Many of the activities that congregations do are team-based activities. Whether you are the pastor, a church staff person, or a lay person, those involved in a congregation will probably serve through and with many teams.
Summit Coach Training launches a training opportunity for team leaders in August. The initiative is composed of two classes. SCT 302—Coaching Teams: Competencies and SCT 312—Coaching Teams: Practicum. Classes may be taken individually or consecutively.
In SCT 302—Coaching Teams: Competencies, participants will learn how to apply coaching skills to working with teams. How can one use coaching skills for team development, learning, accountability, and adding value? This class begins Thursday, August 8, 2024 at 11:00 am EDT/10:00 CDT, and will meet four weeks for a total of eight hours. No previous coaching training is required.
In SCT 312—Coaching Teams: Practicum, participants will reflect on their work as team leader or team coach and will be expected to be leading or coaching a team on a regular basis during the practicum class. The class will meet every other week for 8 weeks (a total of 8 hours) beginning Thursday, September 12, 2024 at 11:00 am EDT/10:00 am CDT, and will end on December 19, 2024.
The International Coaching Federation Core Competencies and the ICF Team Coaching Competencies will provide the structure for the courses. Resource is The Coaching Leader: Coaching Groups and Teams (available here); purchase not required.
Each class is $350. A deposit of $75 holds your spot in a class. Registration information is available here.