Cohesion

Building a group or clan is difficult , but keeping it together is even more difficult. Clans regularly suffer problems with members due to them feeling left out or not developing the �team�-feeling. Group cohesion is an issue that needs to be dealt with as soon as you start to set up a clan. In the end it will be one of the main issues for a clan members decision to stay or go.

1. Give your clan members a structure to hold on to. Organize your team in such a way that everybody has a specific function. A structure where a clanmember or a number of clanmembers have nothing to do will cause these clanmembers to devaluate the meaning of the clan.

2. Make sure you have regular meetings, and

discussions on TF-related affairs. A silent chat-group is the worst that could happen to a clan: slowly people will get bored with it and start leaving.

3. Organize �real-life� meetings if possible. Meet your clanmembers face to face. This will enhance the feeling of cohesion and friendship among your clan members. If this is not possible, exchange pictures. Clan members must have the idea that they are talikng to a real, living, and breathing individual.

4. Use your group contacts actively, but do not let it depend on your activity only. Give people running assignments. You could, for instance, have a distribution list where assigned clanmembers update the rest on developments w.r.t. TFC, TF, etc. Assign a couple of people to maptesting and have them publish their findings on the distribution list.

5. Practice regularly. A clan which practices on a regular basis will find that its members are developing a more personal relationship to eachother. This will also cause clanmembers to feel a �pressure� to come regularly to practice events and other meetings.

6. Deal with everything in a positive way. Do not overly criticise your clanmembers and encourage your clanmembers also to not do this amongst themselves. Any form of criticism can be wrapped in a positive message. This will make it easier for the clanmember to accept the criticism and you do not create any bad feelings.

7. Let the Propaganda Unit develop materials to create the �we�-feeling. (for more info see the propaganda section.