The Wilder Nonprofit Field Guide to Developing Effective Teams

Proven methods for smoother and more productive teamwork Teamwork is rarely simple, easy, or natural. It’s not enough to announce “we’re a team” and expect results. The Fieldstone Nonprofit Guide to Developing Effective Teams is a collection of the best tried-and-true team-building methods. All types of nonprofits, community groups, volunteers, and board members can benefit from the tips and processes in this guide. Plus, no matter what role you play on the team, you can use this guide and help bolster your team’s success.

Tools for team start-up

To help your team get going, this guide gives you seven tools and techniques for:

Writing a team mission statement
Setting team goals
Conducting effective team meetingsp
Creating ground rules
Decision making in teams
Creating team project plans
Developing team spirit.


Tools for team maintenance

Even the best teams struggle with challenges. This guide will help you deal with predictable problems and improve teamwork at any stage of your team’s development. You’ll find specific guidance for:

Improving team meetings
Evaluating overall team effectiveness
Resolving conflict within a team
Managing conflict between two teams
Clarifying roles and responsibilities
Dealing with performance problems
Communicating between meetings.


With a few tools and a little guidance, most groups of people who want to become a team can do it. Developing Effective Teams is just the help you need!