Create Team Spirit With Family Meetings

• Team members respect and trust each other.
• Team members have open communication with each other.
• Team members know they won't be ridiculed or criticized if they make a mistake (although they may be punished for smearing mud all over your brand-new white carpet).
• Team members feel emotionally safe and secure with each other.
• Team members are not afraid to suggest new ideas or explore alternative solutions.

A great way to foster team spirit within your own household is by holding family meetings.  Don't worry about your children being too young to benefit from them. My four year old loves family meetings. When setting up family meetings, lay a sound foundation.

• How often will the team meet? Weekly? Monthly?
• For how long?
• Where will the meetings take place?
• What will be discussed?
• How will the team decide who gets to speak when? (We have a little heart-shaped pillow that we pass around as different people speak; whoever is holding the pillow has the floor for the moment and nobody can interrupt until that person is finished talking.)
• Will team members take turns chairing meetings?

Some families even develop written team charters and including ground rules in their charters. A good set of ground rules can significantly enhance the productivity of a family meeting, especially when they involve the following:

• Ideas and suggestions are received in an attentive and kind way (as opposed to being instantly squashed by a counter argument).
• Different viewpoints are appreciated rather than snubbed.
• People listen to each other and encourage initiatives.
• Possibilities for trying out new ideas are created (as opposed to finding faults and raising obstacles).
• Criticisms are constructive and positive.
• Dialogue (exchanges of viewpoints) is encouraged.
• Many perspectives from team members are heard before important decisions are made.
• Debates focus on issues and ideas (as opposed to people and their relationships).
• People are encouraged to go out on a limb and introduce new ideas.

Family meetings are great for instilling team spirit within your family. Try them in your own home and see what happens!