Team Norms

Norms are the general pattern of behaviors that are expected of group members.  They provide instructions for how the team will function.  The reason for creating team norms is that one cannot assume everyone on the team has the same expectations. 

By establishing open team norms that everyone agrees to, questions about the expectations and possible conflict over clashing unspoken norms are reduced or eliminated.  Team Norms

  • Help to hold the team and individual members accountable for their roles and for the outcomes.
  • Lay out clearly the expectations for how team members will interact with one another within the team, with other staff members, and with the community. 
  • Help ensure that meetings are productive and efficiently run.

Creating Norms for the SLT: Stay Positive!

During one of the first meetings of the SLT, the members should identify the group norms.  This process needs to involve all team members. 

The focus could be on how they want the group to operate so it can accomplish its goals. When creating the norms, the group should focus on the 5 -6 behaviors they would want to see happening.  State these positively.

Click here for Team Process and Norms form.

Once these norms are established, they should continue to be displayed publically so members can see them at each meeting.  Some groups have put the norms permanently on the copy of the Agenda, rather than posting them on a wall or door.

  • Be prepared with reports, and completed tasks.
  • Participate in discussions.
  • Listen to all ideas.
  • Take responsibility for role expectations.
  • Stay focused on the processes and outcomes.

You will notice that the norms are stated in the positive – letting team members know what they should do, not what they should not do.

When we explore the stages of team functioning, you will see how those norms may change after the team has had a chance to work together on some specific tasks.

Along with roles and responsibilities, the team needs to establish procedures to function effectively.

Discussion Reflection Question

Here is a question to consider:

  • What’s missing from examples of team norms above?

Part 1: Forming an Effective Leadership Action Team

Part 2: Team Membership, Recruitment, and Roles

Part 3: Team Functioning

Part 4: Team Building

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