How to Create Culture
Connecting and Building a Group Identity
What Makes People Best Friends?
Shared experiences, inside jokes, weird things in common, common goals, common identity/background, suffering together (exercise, studying, etc.), laughing with (and at) each other, helping each other, etc.
There is a uniqueness to every close friendship. We want to create a uniqueness to our Core Groups.
If your small group isn’t weird, it isn’t close.
Ideas for Creating a Unique Core Group Culture
Name Your Small Group Together
It might sound silly, but oftentimes the most healthy Core Groups are those with a name. This is an easy way to create a group identity. “I am a __________ .”
Create a “Uniform” Together
Buy or create shirts or some other form of clothing to wear together. Wear it when you hang out. The weirder the better. The awkwardness and humor of it can bond the group together. It’s even a fun way to advertise for your Core Group at church or events. Core Groups that have a uniform have an identity and usually stick together.
Create Traditions Together
Do you have any family traditions (i.e. Taco Tuesday)? Unique traditions help people grow together. What kind of traditions can your Core Group create?
Create Nicknames Together
Creating nicknames for everybody in the group can help to create a unique group identity. The military and sports teams often utilize this, and it proves to be very effective. You can also create nicknames for places and activities (i.e. highs and lows). Create a language of your own.
Be Weird Together
Do weird things. Go to weird places. The weirder it is, the greater the bonding. These experiences create inside jokes and will be remembered as things that each person has only ever done with Core Group. The more unique, the more memorable, the more bonding.
Spend Time Together
There is no shortcut. If you want to create close brother/sisterhood, you must spend a lot of time together. Do things together. Go places together. If you don’t have anything to do, do nothing together. It’s better to be bored together than bored alone.
Serve Together
By serving together as a group, you create a common goal. Some of the best hangouts happen while serving.
