Team contracts

Team contracts

A team contract (also known as a Team Charter) is simply a set of rules for team collaboration. It’s worth drafting it at the team’s inception to avoid some problems. It can also be referenced in conflict situations.

A team contract should include all the principles and values ​​important to the team. All team members should be present when creating the contract. The contract should be understandable to everyone.

As a team leader, you should ensure the contract can be created and then implemented into the team’s daily life. What elements should a good contract include?

Step 1:
Team Mission
Define the overarching goal/mission of your team. By defining the mission, the team knows what it aims to achieve and strives to achieve it in every task it undertakes.
Step 2:
Team Roles

Everyone on the team has a role. Match team members to the specific roles necessary for your team’s success. Separating roles will allow you to identify gaps in the team or prevent duplication of tasks.

Step 3:
Shared Values

Shared values ​​that guide your team will allow you to increase the effectiveness of your collaboration.

Values ​​important to your team might include, for example, keeping commitments and respect. For each value, add specific behaviors that express it. This will ensure that everyone understands the value on a consistent basis and can align with it.

Step 4:
Collaboration and Communication

In this step, you should consider such points as: communication tools, work hours, break durations, meeting etiquette, email response rules, meeting dates and scheduling processes, as well as anything else you consider worth standardizing regarding communication and collaboration within the team.

Step 5:
Conflict

Establish rules and strategies for healthy conflict resolution between team members.

Step 6:
Rules of Coexistence

These are rules that will facilitate your daily work hours, such as removing stale food from the refrigerator and smoking only in designated areas.

Other tools  in the area of
Team contracts

Zespół

GRIP Model

GRIP is a methodology that allows you to assess your team’s effectiveness and analyze what works well and what could be improved. How effective is your team? How can you improve its effectiveness?

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Zespół

Expose

Expose is a specific team contract presented through a speech to your team in a contextual change, such as a change in team composition, a change in purpose, your joining the team, or a change in your role (becoming a leader). What “game” are your team and you playing? Do you really have a common understanding of what’s important?

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