Building A Team Charter - Step by Step
What is a team charter?
A team charter is a shared agreement that helps a team get clear on why they exist and how they want to work together. It gives people a common reference point for decisions and behaviour, supporting trust, accountability, and collaboration when things get busy or challenging.
Step-by-Step Guide
1.
Start with Purpose:
Begin by clarifying why the team exists, what is they are here to achieve, and what success looks like when they are working well together?
A shared sense of purpose creates alignment and gives meaning to the work.
2.
Explore and agree upon Team Values:
Discuss the values that will guide how the team work together. These are principles that shape everyday behaviour, decisions, and interactions.
Values are like the banks of a river that keep the river flowing in the right direction.
3.
Define working agreements:
Make explicit how the team will operate day to day. This includes how you communicate, make decisions,
run meetings, manage conflict, and hold one another accountable.
Clarity here reduces misunderstanding and frustration.
4.
Set expectations and boundaries:
Agree on goals and measures of success, as well as roles and responsibilities. Have clarity on what team members can expect from one another, and what is out of bounds.
Clear expectations build trust and psychological safety.
5.
Capture and agree:
Document the agreements made in simple, accessible language, ensuring everyone has a voice in shaping it and is willing to commit to what has been agreed.
This is a collective agreement, not a management document.
Benefits for Teams
A team charter doesn’t remove challenge or difference, but it creates a shared foundation for honest conversation, accountability, and learning. When teams take responsibility for how they work together, performance and trust tend to follow.
Read more about team coaching here