#TEams365 #686: Leadership Myth -N - norms ARen't Important

One of the six factors of  high performing teams is having in place shared expectations about behaviors. This is often referred to as team norms, what is acceptable, and what is not. Whether it's called a Team Charter, Rules of the Road or Team Agreements, creating a shared framework of the way you want to behaviorally operate is key.

Team Agreements help to encourage positive behaviors, and help bring things back in when things go off the rails.

If you are planning a year end retreat this is an excellent activity to undertake. When you have completed your Team Agreements make sure you think of how you want to remember them. I've had teams enshrine them in a poster, others created a statute and others made it part of their screensaver.

Common team agreements might be:
To start and end work on time (be specific around what it means to start and end on time)
To go the extra mile for customer support/satisfaction
To be respectful (again define what respect looks like in your work

Some prompting questions to get at your team norms can include:
What are the behaviors which allow us to be at our best?
What are the behaviors which help us excel?
What behaviors become a line in the sand, no matter what?

Have a great start to your week,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized - Leadership | Teamwork | Coaching Skills Training for Leaders
Supporting Team Leaders One Conversation at a Time(TM)
(416)996-8326