What is Collaborative Team Chartering?

Collaborative team chartering is a process in which a team comes together to define and establish the key goals, expectations, roles, and norms that will guide their work. It is typically done at the beginning of a project or when a new team is formed.

The goal of collaborative team chartering is to create a shared understanding among team members about what they are working to achieve, how they will work together, and what they can expect from each other. This helps to ensure that everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goals, which can increase efficiency, reduce conflict, and improve overall team performance.

The process of collaborative team chartering typically involves several steps, such as:

1. Defining the team's purpose and goals: This involves identifying what the team is working to achieve and what success looks like.

2. Establishing roles and responsibilities: This involves clarifying the roles and responsibilities of each team member and how they will work together to achieve the team's goals.

3. Setting expectations and norms: This involves establishing clear expectations around communication, decision-making, and other key aspects of team work.

4. Creating a plan of action: This involves creating a plan for how the team will achieve its goals, including timelines, milestones, and metrics for measuring progress.

Collaborative team chartering is an important process because it helps to establish a strong foundation for teamwork and collaboration. By involving all team members in the process, it creates a sense of ownership and accountability that can lead to better outcomes and a more positive team culture.

Want to learn how to facilitate this with your team? nuAgility offers a self-paced course, Facilitating Collaborative Chartering for Teams, that walks through creating stronger team charters and working agreements.

Want to talk through how this shows up in real teams and organizations? Join the Agile Community Network, nuAgility's free live community event and podcast, where practitioners discuss topics like this in the context of real work.