Developing a New Team Charter

What is it?

It is a one or two day meeting to set your group’s course for the year. It is not your work plan, but how you will work together. It is a team agreement.

Why should I use it?

To involve all staff in setting achievable values, standards and protocols for your group.

To build team spirit and enthusiasm for the group’s goals.

To give your team or community a set of concrete improvement goals against which they can measure real progress.

How can this tool Help?

This tool enables every member of your team to see the ‘big picture’ and suggest ways to apply it to everyday work. It is the vital link between your team vision, the organization vision and the daily work of getting things done.

How does it work?

Planning

Share information with your staff about your work plans and existing charter elements if you have them.

Doing

The facilitator will have the team focus on charter elements that may include:

• Mission statement **
• Workplace values **
• Service standards
• Code of conduct-communication **
• Roles and responsibilities **
• Protocols – meetings, decision making, dispute resolution **
• Business lines – products and services
• Skills inventory **
• Team improvement goals

Brainstorm each subject and build a team consensus on each. Together, the team’s products on these subjects will form your Team Charter.

A half-day check-up after 6 months will show you how on track you are. After 12 months, you can focus on: things to stop doing, things to continue doing, and things to start doing.

(Adapted from: Tools for Leadership and Learning: Building A Learning Organization, 2002/Third Edition, National Managers’ Community, Canada)

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