Laying the Foundation for Team Success

In my experience, the most successful teams invest time in laying the foundation to create a common framework for everyone. This foundation supports the team infrastructure and team dynamics and its called the Team Charter. The Team Charter provides a simple framework which articulates how a team is to operate and generates freedom of space to allow for initiative and decentralised control - particularly effective for virtual or dispersed teams.

Initially it can be drawn up by the team leader, but should be regularly reviewed in order to reflect accurately how your team goes about its business. The main headings should look to include the following:

Team Vision
Team Values
Team Norms
Key Functional Areas
Decision-Making
Authority
Communications Strategy
Resources

Here is an example of the Team Charter I had in place for my Polar Quest Expedition:

Team Vision
Polar Quest vision is to provide an opportunity for youth and serving members of the Naval service to join a major Polar Expedition and promote the spirit of adventure to inspire others to pursue adventurous and team based activities.

Team Values
Adventure Spirit, Commitment, Humour in Adversity, Mutual Trust, Versatility.

Team Norms
Monthly progress updates, minutes taken at all meetings, individuals hold themselves accountable for meeting agree commitments.

Member Roles
As per Terms of Reference

Key Function Areas
As per Terms of Reference.

Communication Strategy
Emails/Tel messages responded to within 48hrs, out of office notifications made, weekly conference call, emails to be sent to work/private emails.

Decision Making, Authority, Accountability
Expedition accountable to Higher Management Committee, individuals able to make decisions within understood boundaries within Terms of Reference, issues effecting policy are to be recommended at team level and presented to the Higher Management Committee, Expedition Leader to brief Higher Management Committee as requested.

Resources
Expenditure within pre-agreed quarterly budgets, core operations to be conducted from Expedition Headquarters, any additional resource requirements to be agreed at monthly team meeting.

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