Performing Communities

For a group to work effectively, it must become a performing community. A performing community accepts and supports differences, understands the various roles played by the members of the group, communicates openly and with respect, and works together for the common good. A performing community is willing to risk, its members understand that leadership roles evolve, they are able and willing to share leadership with others and serve others as different scenarios play out, over time. They have developed a sense of trust.

Ideally, people coming together as a working community have the time to develop trust and a sense of common purpose, but in emergencies they are forced together in chaos, to address complex situations or issues with a sense of immediacy. This presents challenges and opportunities, as individuals strive to establish their own positions and voices in pursuit of solutions to a common dilemma.

Is the quality of the solutions reached by working communities affected by whether or not they've first had the opportunity to develop trust and a sense of common purpose? Does this trust, or lack thereof, affect the level of ongoing engagement of the members?