Gauging the Health of Your Group

Tools to help see where you're going strong, and where you might need a little support.

Prayerfully ponder each of the following categories and descriptions and plot your group experience somewhere on the spectrum. Talk over the results with your small group pastor or coach:

Category

 

Plot your group experience

 

Sharing of Life:

A group of acquaintances that meets weekly

. . . . . . .

A family of friends whose lives are intertwined

Safety/ Intimacy:

Sharing and prayer requests tend to be superficial

. . . . . . .

Members feel freedom to risk sharing deep struggles

Dependence on Truth:

Opinions and personal feelings dominate

. . . . . . .

God’s Word is considered the final authority

"Every member"

ministry

Leader ministers; members mostly observe/ receive

. . . . . . .

Each person encouraged to use gift(s) to care for others

Lifechange:

Little evidence that folks are progressing spiritually

. . . . . . .

Tangible signs that individuals are growing

Group Discussions:

Monologues (dominated by one or two members)

. . . . . . .

Dialogues (involving the entire group)

Outreach:

The same people attend week after week

. . . . . . .

Group fills the "empty chair" by inviting visitors

Participation:

Members routinely skip meetings and gatherings

. . . . . . .

Members make group functions a top priority

Leadership Development:

Leader is practicing and developing his own skills

. . . . . . .

Leader is identifying and training new leaders

"One another" care:

Little outside interaction or involvement

. . . . . . .

Group members show active, ongoing concern

Overall sense:

Group is limping along out of a sense of obligation

. . . . . . .

We are excited because of all that God is doing!

Assessing Your Leadership Effectiveness by Len Woods

Rate yourself 1-10 (1 being "HELP!" and 10 being "Hallelujah!") in each of the following categories. Discuss the results with your small group pastor or coach at your next scheduled meeting, with the goal of devising a plan for gaining competence and/or help in weak areas:

Delegating

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Teaching the Bible

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Planning

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Leading discussions

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Tending to details

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Guiding toward the goal

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Making newcomers feel welcome

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Evaluating/discerning

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Shepherding

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Showing compassion

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Equipping others

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Developing new leaders

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Keeping the group on task

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Creating a warm, safe atmosphere

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Getting others involved

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Listening

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Counseling

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Getting people to open up

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Hospitality

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Discernment/wisdom

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

Leading in "fun"

       1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10

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