Whenever human beings gather in a voluntary association that emphasizes relationships, there's a natural tendency to limit the size to fewer than 40 people. Here's what church leaders should know about this "Rule of 40" and what to do about it. Four sizes of groups1. The face-to-face group. Nearly every researcher on small-group dynamics reports that when a group grows beyond seven members, the benefits of the small group begin to erode. That is one reason why most committees naturally consist of five to seven persons. 2. The "overgrown" small group. If members are well-acquainted with one another and see each other at least once or twice a week, this group, which may range between 8 and 17 members, can still enjoy many of the small-group dynamics. This is the most common size for a church choir, a youth group, or church council. 3. The middle-sized group. The Rule of 40 begins to apply: 35 or 40 is about as large as a group can become with the relationships of members as the basic organizing principle. As a group moves toward 40, most techniques and principles for strengthening cohesion in a small group lose their value. These include using a circle as the basic seating arrangement, asking participants to introduce themselves to the entire group, encouraging everyone to share in the discussion, expecting each member to relate to all of the other members, and assuming that each member will develop a strong loyalty to the group. 4. The large group. The group consists of more than 40. The focal point tends to be the leader or the task, not the relationships of the members to one another. What should church leaders do?In congregations where groups, classes, or choirs have leveled off with 24 to 36 regular participants, leaders have three basic choices:
These include: (a) requiring a commitment from each member to the common task, such as the special Easter anthem; (b) taking a strong leadership role; (c) utilizing a longer time-frame for planning. If a choir, for example, fluctuates in size between 35 and 45, the group will need to shift to greater reliance on large-group techniques or the group will continue to fluctuate. It's also time to consider the need for large-group techniques when:
   Small Group Leader Intentional ShepherdingTraining the Core Workers The gateway is personal relationship. Practice 1: The Free Attention Giveaway Practice listening, ask the right questions, and proceed slowly.
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