Free team charter template

Clearly defining roles and processes allows teams to work more efficiently and improve productivity. Everyone can see the workflow and their part in it.

A team charter can help foster a sense of purpose and direction within the team, enhancing motivation and performance. You’re all paddling in the same direction.

Establishing clear rules and guidelines can help to prevent misunderstandings and resolve conflicts quickly and effectively so the team can get on with business.

Develop the purpose statement collaboratively through brainstorming. Team members should understand how their work fits within the overall mission of the business. A well-defined purpose can help guide team actions and decisions.

Use the structure to identify each member’s skill set and enable cross-team collaboration. Begin with the highest-ranking job then develop the reporting lines and specify how the roles interact with each other. To make the outlining process more collaborative, gather everyone and challenge them to learn each other’s roles and responsibilities. And keep the structure updated so everyone is clear who to go to.

This section will help your team avoid overspending and be clear on how to allocate resources. It can also help the team predict and contain costs. Effective cost management will satisfy stakeholders and ensure project success. Giving all team members the opportunity to participate in developing the strategy will motivate them to follow it. For teams investing in skill development, government resources on staff training offer valuable guidance on funding and support to strengthen team skills.

Your workflow should connect the right people to the right data at the right time. Repeatable workflows encourage consistency and efficiency. The seven standard planning steps are: deciding what you want to accomplish; setting success metrics for easy measurement; clarifying roles and stakeholders; establishing a budget and resource list; aligning on milestones, including deliverables; outlining timelines so that expectations are clear; and sharing communication plans.

Each project will have both objective and subjective metrics for success. When considering a team’s definition of success, look at the importance of stakeholder feedback, and how you’ll compare outcomes to objectives. Use the SMART acronym when setting your goals and objectives. Goals should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound.

Effective communication means being clear and concise, adjusting the language for each audience, and seeking feedback. Take into account whether your team gathers personally, virtually, or through a combination. Consider how you currently communicate and brainstorm ways communication could be smoother. One effective framework is the “What”, “So, what”, and “Now what” model in which every communication includes this information.

Differences of opinion occur from time to time and, if managed well, can lead to better solutions, while still avoiding conflict. The key is to establish team values and ground rules. For example, treating everyone with respect may be a team value. A ground rule might be to practise active listening or provide only constructive criticism. Your team charter can also include strategies for conflict resolution such as discussing differences of opinion openly, dealing with problems right away, differentiating between intent and impact, and working together to find solutions.

Team members sign the team charter to indicate agreement and to promote unity and accountability. Once signed, the PDF document can be shared digitally for easy access. The team should periodically review and update the team charter to ensure relevancy.