Team charter template
Created by:
Align goals and establish a shared understanding to form a team.
Categories
- Human Resources
- Whiteboard Template
KEY FEATURES
Team Collaboration
Onboarding
Communication
A team charter template is meant to help teams get off to a great start. It’s all about defining your team’s purpose, goals, and roles. By laying everything out clearly, you ensure everyone is on the same page, which means less confusion down the line and more focus on what matters. Such documentation is essential for building a solid foundation for teamwork and smooth collaboration.
Learn how to use a team charter template to set clear expectations, align everyone on a shared vision, and create a game plan that keeps your team on track. Whether kicking off a new team or re-aligning an existing one, a team charter is critical to building trust and keeping things running smoothly.
What is a team charter template?
A team charter template outlines a team's purpose, goals, roles, and responsibilities. It serves as a blueprint for how the team will work together, setting clear expectations and guidelines from the start. This helps ensure everyone is aligned on the team’s objectives and how to achieve them, making it an essential tool for project management.
A team charter is essential for fostering effective collaboration by clearly defining each team member's roles and responsibilities. This clarity helps everyone understand their contribution and how they fit into the project, ensuring smooth teamwork towards shared goals.
Additionally, a team charter streamlines new members' onboarding by outlining the team’s purpose and objectives, speeding up their integration. It also sets communication guidelines to prevent misunderstandings and keep everyone informed, enhancing project management and team collaboration.
Keep in mind the following ground rules when putting together a team charter:
Stay present and unplug from technological devices
Listen with an open mind
Always assume positive intent
Remember that everyone’s experiences and feelings are valid
Benefits of using a team charter template
Clarifies team roles
Using a template for a team charter helps team members clearly understand their roles by outlining specific responsibilities. This clarity ensures everyone knows their duties and how they contribute to the team’s success.
Aligns goals
The template supports the team in aligning on shared objectives and outcomes, ensuring that everyone is working towards the same goals. This alignment is critical to keeping the team focused and unified.
Fosters accountability
The team charter encourages personal and collective accountability by defining roles and responsibilities. Team members are more likely to take ownership of their tasks, leading to better overall performance.
Enhances communication
Using a team charter improves communication by establishing clear guidelines for the team's interaction. This promotes effective team collaboration, ensuring everyone stays informed and can work together seamlessly.
Sets expectations
The template defines clear expectations for the team's behavior and deliverables, providing a solid foundation for the decision-making process. This ensures that everyone understands their responsibilities and how they should approach their work.
How to create a team charter
- 1
Set the ground rules
This is a safe space for openly sharing:
Disconnect and stay present
Listen with an open mind
Always assume positive intent
Remember that everyone’s experience is valid
- 2
Explain the team’s purpose
First, leaders should explain the team’s overall purpose. Consider the following:
What is the team’s primary goal?
What value does the team bring? Why is it needed now?
What are your expectations for the team over the next 6-12 months?
What challenges or blockers might the team face?
Share the team’s vision and context, adding sticky notes to clarify actions, responsibilities, and next steps. Then, discuss as a group to ensure everyone is aligned and understands the team's purpose and direction.
- 3
Align on scope
Use sticky notes to define the team's goals, success criteria, scope, and target users. Review and discuss the input to ensure everyone understands the team's mission clearly. Aligning on scope helps prevent misunderstandings and ensures all team members focus on achieving the same objectives.
- 4
Determine roles and responsibilities
Assign and clarify specific roles and responsibilities for each team member. Ensure everyone knows who is doing what and how their role contributes to the project. Including the project manager's role is crucial for coordinating efforts, managing timelines, and ensuring that tasks are completed efficiently.
- 5
Agree on shared norms
Define how the team will approach challenges, foster collaboration, and build a positive team culture. Establishing these shared norms is essential for creating a collaborative culture where everyone feels respected, valued, and committed to the team’s success.
- 6
Set rituals and communication
Identify overlapping time zones to maximize your synchronous working hours. Then, agree on the team’s preferred communication methods and establish regular meeting rituals. Setting these rituals ensures that everyone stays connected, and knowledge sharing becomes a natural part of your team’s workflow, enhancing overall efficiency.
- 7
Team commitment
Commit to the agreements made in this session and sign the team contract. Clarify the following steps, ownership, and actions to move forward. This commitment solidifies the team's dedication to their goals and ensures everyone is on board with the plan and ready to contribute to the project's success.
Bring teams together with Confluence whiteboards
Confluence whiteboards are essential for teams that want to collaborate more effectively and organize their ideas visually. Whether you're planning projects, brainstorming new concepts, or aligning on team goals, Confluence whiteboards offer a dynamic space where everyone can contribute in real-time. This makes it easier to see the big picture and ensures all voices are heard, fostering a more inclusive and productive team environment.
Confluence whiteboards provide a flexible platform for efficiently mapping roles, responsibilities, and goals. The interactive features allow you to quickly adjust and refine your charter as the team evolves, keeping everyone aligned and focused. Plus you can Confluence’s other robust features to keep all your planning, communication, and documentation in one place.
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