We all experience changes in our work environments every day. We need something to rely on through shifts and uncertainties, a compass to guide our teams as we move forward. And providing direction for individuals with diverse backgrounds, work styles, and habits can feel like proverbially herding the proverbial cats. So we recommend adopting a Team Working Agreement, created by all your team members, as the ideal compass.
Why Create a Team Working Agreement?
So, imagine that your team’s overall approach and context are in sync in everyone’s minds, not just about the “what” of their work but also the “why” and the “how.” Idyllic and achievable.
This shared awareness isn’t just a nicety; it’s a foundation for creating “twice the impact in half the time at a sustainable pace.” You might have heard Agile in Nonprofits mention this (our sacred mantra) once or twice!
A Team Working Agreement provides this alignment, grounding everyone in a mutual understanding about:
- The team’s purpose.
- Clear goals
- Teammates’ work styles
- Collaboration
How to Craft Your Team’s Agreement
Now you understand the intelligent rationale for creating an agreement. So here’s how:
- Brainstorm Together: Gather everyone to discuss and brainstorm ideas openly.
- Agree on Core Purpose: Start by defining the focal purpose of your collective work.
- Outline Values: What do we stand for? What are our guiding principles?
- Recognize Strengths: Each team member should discuss their unique strengths. This step builds appreciation and helps the team benefit from individual talents.
- Address Challenges: Mull over what should happen if agreements are inadvertently broken, creating a clear path for resolution.
- Seek Consensus: Although not every point needs unanimous agreement, strive for overall consensus on team norms. If disagreements persist, keep discussing until the team reaches a mutual understanding.
- Revisit and Update: A Team Working Agreement isn’t a one-time document. Revisit it as often as you need, especially when new team members join, to keep it current and relevant.
Templates and Tools to Support You and Your Team
Various structures and prompts are available to help you create a Team Working Agreement to be proud of:
- Visual collaboration tools like Mural and Miro
- adept at facilitating and organizing your discussions
- nonprofits possibly eligible for free accounts
- Insightful books
- “High Impact Tools for Teams” by Stefano Mastrogiacomo and Alex Osterwalde
- “How to Facilitate Team Work Agreements” by Dan Hogan and Erin Leigh
- Agile in Nonprofits’s FREE Team Working Agreement guide
We heartily encourage you and your team to create a robust Team Working Agreement. It guides everyone on the way to lasting, greater impact, as one team. We speak from experience—our own as well as that of our clients: You will be so glad you did.