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Team Development: Teambuilding: Structure

1. Overview

  • General actions are required to develop all teams
  • Teams can also take specific actions to facilitate team development at each stage
  • Ground rules detail how the team will interact
  • A team charter documents how the team will operate
  • Creating a solid structure will allow you to build a high performing team

2. General Team Development Actions

3. Stage Specific Team Development Actions

4. Team Ground Rules

  • Help individuals function together as a team 
  • Reflect what is important to the members about how they work together
  • Focus on three elements:
    • Processes: how the activities will be carried out
    • Interactions: ways in which team members will relate to each other
    • Contributions: expected activities and deliverables for the team

5. Team Ground Rules Examples

6. Team Charter Benefits

  • Builds alignment so everyone is moving in the same direction
  • Documents team’s mission, processes, roles, responsibilities, membership, and operating procedures
  • Provides clarity of purpose, priorities, and roles
  • Informs the allocation of resources
  • Clarifies mutual expectations and anticipates potential challenges
  • Creates buy-in and commitment for accomplishing the work of the team
  • Enhances communication, trust, and collaboration
  • Helps team members stay focused
  • Realign the team during difficult times

7. Components of a Team Charter

8. Developing High Performance Teams