Team Covenant

Objectives

Explore importance & advantages

Create a Team Covenant

Begin living it!

The Definition of a “Team”

One of the key distinctions between a team and a collection of people assigned to the same leader:

A real “team” has a collective task that demands a high level of interdependency, coordination and collaboration among its members—something that can only be accomplished together.

A Good Team Covenant Should…

  Be short (< 8 items) and easy to remember

  Be comprised of specific behavioral items

  Once agreed to, be supported and committed to by all members

  Framed as “We will…”

  Be thought of as an “organic” set of norms to be periodically reviewed for currency

  Be clearly focused on the internal process of the group, not on external issues

Group vs. Team Group Team

Purpose Have an affiliation because of a common job, usually have individual purpose

Have been placed on the team to achieve a goal together

Expected Participation

Members can keep going when someone is absent, not dependent on full attendance in group functions

Every member is needed and has a purpose on the team; if one person is absent, remaining team members feel effect/impact

Expected Outcome Each person receives individual values, identify individual action items that benefit them immediately

The team receives value, and action plans are created as a team to benefit the team; actions may be divided but are intended to achieve the team goal

Whether people form a team or group, how they operate in conjunction with one another is the determining factor.

Team Activity

1.  Individually generate suggested behaviors for the code.

2.  Compile suggested behaviors into a single list.

3.  Identify overlapping suggestions.

4.  Narrow down your list.

5.  Write the Team Covenant.

6.  Discuss ways to handle violations.

7.  Establish commitment.

8.  Finally, begin living it!

Keeping It Alive

  Formalize it (under glass)

  Refer to it (meetings, informal feedback)

  Measure it (frequently)

  Talk about it (how are we doing?)

Keeping It Alive

How well does our team: 1 2 3 4 5 Team Average

Respect one another.

Communicate openly & honestly

Keep our promises

Team Covenant - Example

1.  We will actively participate and learn together.

2.  We will take risks.

3.  We will listen attentively to each other and support one another.

4.  We will respect each other’s ideas and opinions as well as respect each other’s differences.

5.  We will remain professional (eyes on the prize!)

6.  We will celebrate victories together as well as sticking together in rough times.

7.  We will hold each other accountable.

8.  We will trust each other.

We will…

• Communicate openly & honestly  Ask questions/bring up issues we might be nervous about, but need to address to be able to move forward

• Respect one another as individuals and as professionals  Don’t get ugly….keep it professional, not personal and in the context of the goals  Think of the Team first  Support each other’s work and don’t disparage in public

• Appreciate and leverage our collective strengths  Provide kudos  Ask for help  Determine how to increase strengths (both personal & professional)

• Keep our promises and commitments  Deliver what we said we would, when we said

• Fully participate  Pay attention, listen, absorb, share relevant information  Don’t multi-task and be on time  Be flexible when work demands prevent participation  Know what’s important and focus on what’s needed  Invite only critical attendees so decisions can be made  Determine how to deal with meeting conflict issues, individually

• Do valuable work  Define how work drives or contributes to overall goals and objectives  Focus on delivering those things that add value  If unsure of what’s valuable, ask to define

• Have constructive criticism  Be ‘hard on the problem, soft on the people’  Learn to give and accept criticism as it helps us learn and get better

Team Covenant - Example

Team Activity

1.  Individually generate suggested behaviors for the code.

2.  Compile suggested behaviors into a single list.

3.  Identify overlapping suggestions.

4.  Narrow down your list.

5.  Write the Team Covenant.

6.  Discuss ways to handle violations.

7.  Establish commitment.

8.  Finally, begin living it!

Team Power

Text slide with large image

IMAGINE…. “If you could get all the people in an

organization [team] rowing in the same direction, you could dominate any industry, in any market, against

any competition, at any time.”

Team Covenant