What is a Team Agreement & How to Create One

When collaborating as a team, it’s essential to establish working agreements.

Not only they facilitate alignment towards common goals, but also minimize confusion as the team progresses.

As long as everyone sticks to the agreement, chances for misunderstandings become minimal.

So what are team agreements, why are they important, and how do you create one? Keep reading.

What is a team agreement?

Team agreements are guidelines or principles that team members agree upon and bow to in order to facilitate collaboration, communication, and productivity within a team.

These working agreements establish a common understanding of how team members will interact, make decisions, and handle various aspects of their work together.

Here’s an example of where a team agreement is applicable:

We agree to utilize Slack as our primary communication channel for daily updates, quick questions, and sharing progress. We will hold weekly stand-up meetings to discuss project status and any blockers.

Below, we’ve described the types of different team agreements and what they mean.

Types of team agreements

Team agreements can cover a wide range of topics, including but not limited to:

1. Communication norms: Establishing preferred channels of communication, response times, and guidelines for respectful and effective communication .
2. Meeting protocols: Defining expectations for meeting agendas, participation, timing, and decision-making processes.
3. Roles and responsibilities: Clarifying each team member’s role, tasks, and areas of expertise  to avoid confusion and ensure accountability.
4. Work processes: Outlining how tasks will be assigned, deadlines will be set, and progress will be tracked to maintain efficiency and transparency.
5. Conflict resolution: Providing strategies and protocols for addressing conflicts and disagreements constructively to maintain a positive team dynamic .
6. Respect and inclusion: Promoting a culture of respect, diversity, and inclusion by establishing guidelines for treating all team members with dignity and valuing their perspectives.
7. Feedback and continuous improvement: Encouraging open and honest feedback , both giving and receiving, to foster personal and team growth.
8. Confidentiality and trust: Establishing boundaries around sensitive information and fostering an environment of trust and confidentiality among team members.

Team agreements are typically created collaboratively, with input from all team members, and are revisited periodically to ensure they remain relevant and effective as the team evolves and new challenges crop up.

By establishing clear expectations and guidelines, they help teams work more cohesively, minimize misunderstandings, and ultimately achieve their goals more effectively.

The benefits of having a team agreement

If you’re still not bought as to why team agreements are essential, here are numerous benefits to teams and their members, including:

1. Clarity and alignment

Team agreements provide clarity on expectations, roles, and responsibilities, ensuring that all team members are aligned and working towards common goals.

2. Improved communication

By establishing communication norms and protocols, team working agreements facilitate more effective and respectful communication among team members, reducing misunderstandings and conflicts.

3. Enhanced collaboration

Clear guidelines for collaboration, task assignment, and decision-making promote a more collaborative and cooperative team environment, where members support each other and work together towards shared objectives.

4. Increased accountability

Team agreements help hold team members accountable for their actions and commitments, as expectations are clearly defined and agreed upon by all members.

5. Conflict resolution

By outlining processes for addressing conflicts and disagreements, team agreements enable teams to resolve issues un a constructive and timely manner , maintaining positive relationships and productivity.

6. Fostering trust and respect

Establishing norms around respect, inclusivity, and confidentiality fosters a culture of trust and respect within the team, where members feel valued and supported.

7. Greater productivity

With clear guidelines and processes in place, teams can work more efficiently and productively, minimizing time wasted on misunderstandings or unproductive interactions.

8. Continuous improvement

Team agreements encourage a culture of feedback and reflection, enabling teams to continuously evaluate their performance, identify areas for improvement, and make necessary adjustments to enhance their effectiveness.

Overall, team agreements contribute to a positive team dynamic, improved performance, and increased satisfaction among team members, ultimately leading to greater success in achieving the team’s objectives.

The last question is, what are some best practices  and steps to creating team working agreements?

How to create a team agreement

Now that we know the types and benefits, it’s time to get started on creating our first team agreement. Here’s a step-by-step guide.

Initiate the process

Start by explaining the purpose and importance of establishing a team agreement. Emphasize that it will help improve communication, collaboration, and productivity within the team.

Invite participation

Encourage all team members to actively participate in the creation of the team agreement. Make it clear that everyone’s input is valuable and will contribute to the success of the team.

Identify key topics

Brainstorm and discuss the key areas that the team agreement should cover. These may include communication norms, meeting protocols, roles and responsibilities, conflict resolution, and others based on the specific needs of the team.

Facilitate discussion

Facilitate open and honest discussions around each topic, allowing team members to share their perspectives, concerns, and suggestions. Encourage active listening and respectful dialogue to ensure that all viewpoints are heard and considered.

Draft the agreement

Based on the discussions, collaboratively draft the team agreement, capturing the agreed-upon norms, expectations, and guidelines for each topic. Use clear and concise language to ensure understanding by all team members.

Review and refine

Review the draft team agreement as a group, paying attention to clarity, completeness, and alignment with the team’s goals and values. Make any necessary revisions or additions based on feedback from team members.

Finalize the agreement

Once everyone is satisfied with the content, finalize the team agreement. Ensure that all team members have the opportunity to review and endorse the agreement, either verbally or by signing off on it.

Implement and revisit

Put the team agreement into practice immediately and encourage all team members to uphold its principles and guidelines. Periodically revisit the agreement as a team to assess its effectiveness, make any necessary updates or revisions, and ensure ongoing alignment with the team’s needs and objectives.

How often should a team revisit and revise the team agreement?

Revising a team agreement should be a dynamic process, reflecting the evolving nature of the team and its projects. Teams should schedule regular check-ins, perhaps quarterly or semi-annually, to assess the agreement’s relevance and effectiveness. These revisions allow for adjustments based on new members, changing project scopes, or shifts in the team’s working environment, ensuring that the agreement remains aligned with the team’s current needs and objectives.

Final thoughts

By following these steps and fostering a collaborative approach, you can create a team agreement that reflects the collective values, expectations, and commitments of the team members, ultimately fostering a more cohesive and productive team environment.