Storming The Castle. . .

Teamwork can be broken down into four stages.  Forming, Storming, Norming, & Performing. I want to touch on Forming and Storming.
    One of the major steps to creating a team is the forming process. It is incredibly important to get to know each other and get past the initial awkwardness that teams start out with. As we show the people that we are going to be working with that we care about them, and not just about what they can do for us, that's when a team can really be formed.
   Storming is the next step, and it can be crucial.  Once you've got a team really formed and it's time to get down to business, things should get complicated.   If a team is properly formed, with trust and love, than the storming will be a good phase.  We "storm" by sharing out ideas, even if they aren't the same as everyone else. As everyone shares their own opinions and  views we are able to find the BEST way, instead of simply doing the way of the person who spoke up.

One of my dysfunctions as a leader is that I have a definite fear of conflict.  I am horrible at the storming stage.    Unless I feel very very comfortable in the group I'm in, I usually just keep to myself if my idea isn't the same as someone else.  Then, if I do by change share my idea, as soon as one person doesn't agree I step down and give in to the other ideas, even if I think that my idea could work better or be more effective.  In my particular leadership role over Spring Sing, there are some times that I will do whatever everyone else says will be best. I will give my idea, but if someone doesn't like it, I throw the idea out instead of discussing it.
  Improvement in this area can come as I listen intently to others ideas, share my own, and then talk about which ideas would be best for what reasons. :)