Creating Team Norms

Now that we have established the essentials of team norms, the next step is to create these

norms so that each team member learn to interact with fellow members, as well as those

outside of the team, effectively and successfully. If you lead a team that has difficulty of

interacting with each other, perhaps you need to follow these steps in creating and

developing team norms.

Form a charter – Draft a list of proposed team norms that you want to project in your

team. You could also follow team norms from other work groups. You could also advise your

co-members to make up their own ideas for team norms.

Gather your members – Schedule and hold a meeting to introduce the proposed team

norms to your members. Make sure that all team members must be present at the meeting

so that the norms can be “owned” by all of them. If one member is absent or does not

attend, postpone the meeting for another day.

Let an outside person facilitate – It is best that a person outside of your team facilitate

the meeting so that members would not feel that they are being “dictated” by a new set of

rules. In the absence of a facilitator, let another team member lead the meeting.

Let ideas flow – Begin the brainstorming by brining out each of the member’s drafts for a

team norm. Let them provide additional ideas as they come along. The more ideas

generated, the better. Remember not to comment or critique on the ideas, and instead list

everything on the board so the whole group can see them.

Discuss about these ideas – Once the proposed norms are generated on the board, you

might want to cross out redundant ideas off the list. You can decide to keep all the group

norms listed, or you can discuss to determine the group norms your group wishes to keep.

Although there is no recommended number of group norms you can keep, it is best to let

common sense prevail when you find there are one too many guidelines. You could also add

new group norms over time if the team sees it fit.

Only pay attention to how you interact – Group norms does not concern all group

behavior and therefore should not be legislated. What needs attention are the important

interaction areas including effective conflict communication, and keeping commitments.

Commit to the norms – Once the set of guidelines has been agreed upon by all members,

they are also bound to commit into applying the team norms, as well as telling each other if

they believe a group member is violating these norms.

Distribute the list of team norms– After the meeting, distribute to all member the group

norms that they have agreed upon.

Evaluate the team norms – After a certain period of time, such as every three months,

evaluate how the team norms are affecting the group into achieving its business goals as

well as its members’ relationship goals.