Team Charter - How to Design a Roadmap for your Team
Team Charter - How to Design the Roadmap of a Team
Starting a new team can be both exciting and daunting and that is what I hear from my clients as being one of the most common challenges of a new manager, but not only…. Assembling a group of individuals with diverse skills and backgrounds to work towards a common goal is a thrilling adventure, but without clear direction and alignment, it can quickly become chaotic. This is where the team charter tool comes into play.
A team charter serves as a roadmap for the team, outlining its purpose, goals, roles, responsibilities, and operating norms. It provides clarity, sets expectations, and fosters accountability among team members.
What I also advise my clients is to intentionally come back to it once a quarter or even once a year together with their team and recalibrate it with what is worth keeping in it based on what is working well and to maybe renegotiate or reformulate some of its parts if they are not serving the team at its best.
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to effectively use the team charter tool for a new team:
#teamcharter #teamdevelopment #teamleadership
Team Purpose:
Define the team's overarching purpose or mission statement. This should answer the question: Why does this team exist? Be concise but clear in articulating the team's purpose.
Team Norms and Values:
Outline the norms and values that guide the team's behaviour and interactions. This section could include principles such as respect, transparency, collaboration, integrity, and inclusivity. Provide specific examples of how these norms and values will be demonstrated in daily operations, what is acceptable and what builds trust in the team and what is not.
Team Initiatives - Goals and Roles:
Identify the specific initiatives, goals, and roles that the team will pursue to fulfil its purpose. This section should outline the measurable objectives the team aims to achieve and assign responsibilities to team members accordingly. Each goal should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) and also to drive motivation. Even that can be actively optimized if connected with values or personal interest to achieve the team’s goals.
Team Practices - Communication, Decision Making, and Accountability:
Define the communication channels, decision-making processes, and mechanisms for holding team members accountable. Specify how information will be shared, how decisions will be made (e.g., consensus-based, democratic, hierarchical), and how progress will be tracked and reviewed. Additionally, outline consequences for not meeting commitments and how conflicts will be resolved.
Team Resources:
List the resources available to the team, including financial, technological, human, and informational resources. Specify how these resources will be allocated and managed to support the team's initiatives and goals. This section can also include any training or development opportunities provided to team members to enhance their skills and capabilities.
So, send me a message if you need some guidance or best practices on how to use this essential management tool and don’t forget to revisit the team charter to make adjustments as needed based on changing circumstances or team dynamics.
