Matt Rutherford
Matt Rutherford
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Matt Rutherford
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Establish Team Norms To Drive Excellence

As a leader, I’ve seen teams transform when they intentionally define how they will work together, communicate, and solve problems.  Here's a way to establish those team norms.
A table football game, sometimes called 'baby foot' - with red and green players.
Photo by Pascal Swier / Unsplash

I was recently coaching a manager who was struggling to get their team engaged at the beginning of their journey together. I described a team norming exercise which can deliver great impact. I thought it was worth writing up so that more people could benefit from it. 

It is easy for teams to operate on autopilot, assuming that everyone shares the same expectations about how to work together. However, misaligned expectations can steadily erode trust, productivity, and morale.

This is where the magic of setting team behaviour norms comes into play. 

As a leader, I’ve seen teams transform when they intentionally define how they will work together, communicate, and solve problems. 

A simple exercise like brainstorming team norms not only builds clarity but also fosters a sense of shared ownership and accountability.

Read on to find a great way to reap the benefits and impact of team norms.

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