What kind of team is your team?

Most church staffs describe themselves as a "team." But I've been on staff at four different churches in my life, and although each of them described their staff as a "team," the staff dynamic in each of those churches has been c-o-m-p-l-e-t-e-l-y different.

This past week as I watched the Olympics, I realized the difference: there are a lot of different types of teams. Their strategies of teamwork are different, which means their interaction and goal as a team are different. Here's how I would describe the last four teams I've served as a part of (in no particular order).

Gymnastics Team - Each person competes in individual events, with the results counting for or against the entire team. With the exception of the "hug" at the end of an individual event, there is little or no team interaction, and virtually no widespread team strategy. The coach finds the best individuals in each event and lets them do what they do best.

Track and Field Team - The track team is even more individualized than the gymnastics team. They travel together and wear the same uniforms, but that's about it. Each individual worries about himself, because the other members of the team have little or no affect on him. Success is individual - there are no team medals.

Soccer/Futbol Team - The soccer team has a common goal, and each person contributes towards that goal. Each person on the team has a position/specialty, though if the situation demands it they will switch. Strikers play defense when the other team has the ball, and sometimes (penalty kicks) defenders are responsible for scoring points. If one person fails, someone else is normally able to pick up the slack. The team rises and falls, wins or loses, and plays every aspect of the game together.

Basketball Team - The basketball team is fairly similar to the soccer team, except that (at least in the case of the United States) there tend to be two or three stars, and everyone else supports them in accomplishing the team goals. The whole team gets rewarded, though only a couple get recognized for their contribution on a regular basis.

How would you describe your staff team? Which philosophy do you think is the best? Can you think of other examples?