Team norms set a foundation for successful collaboration. Many organizations, especially those that already operate effectively, may wonder why norms are necessary. However, establishing these guidelines can transform good collaboration into great. Let’s explore the why, the how, and the impact of defining, articulating, and refining team norms.
Why Norms Matter
Norms are the invisible guideposts that direct team behavior, streamline interactions, and make sure everyone shares an understanding of "how we work together." While teams that already get along might see this step as redundant, formalizing norms is essential to eliminate assumptions and enable clear articulation of expectations. Norms help identify individual needs, bring common requirements to light, and create a shared framework. This is especially useful for new members or during transitions, as norms clarify the standards for engagement and interaction.
View this video, in which Kurtis explains the importance of establishing team norms.
Crafting Norms: A Collaborative Process
When establishing norms, the process itself is essential. Simply having a leader dictate a list of norms to a team is ineffective. Instead, it’s about giving everyone the opportunity to voice their preferences and values. Each team member can contribute their thoughts on what behaviors make teamwork impactful, allowing a consensus to emerge on what’s already working and what needs refining. By aligning on shared practices, teams lay a foundation that everyone feels connected to, reinforcing accountability and buy-in.
Reinforcing Norms Beyond Meetings
Once norms are set, it’s crucial not to let them become just a "checklist" item at the beginning of meetings. Rather than skimming through them, focus on one norm per meeting, creating opportunities for deeper reflection and reinforcement. Making norms engaging and memorable—through tactics like team-building exercises or fun reminders—can make them more effective. Incorporating norms into every meeting consistently helps them stay relevant and impactful. In this video, we show different ways to reinforce norms and to provide the opportunity to live and demonstrate what each norm looks like as we move through our meetings.
When Conflicts Arise: Returning to Norms
A significant benefit of well-articulated norms is that they provide a neutral ground for navigating conflicts. When issues emerge, instead of approaching the individual, the team can collectively revisit their norms. This shifts the focus from people to practices, allowing for constructive dialogue around how certain behaviors align (or don’t) with established norms. This approach also encourages team members to engage in self-correction and peer accountability, which is often more effective than top-down enforcement.
The Power of “Why” in Norms
One of the most effective ways to make norms meaningful is to attach a "why" to each one. For example, a norm like “We will be present and engaged” gains more weight when paired with “because everyone’s time is valuable, and we respect the time we have together.” Knowing the reason behind each norm fosters deeper commitment, making norms feel relevant and significant rather than arbitrary. The "why" helps the team align on purpose and understand the importance of each guideline.
Living the Norms: What Success Looks Like
To make norms actionable, the team needs to discuss what living by each one looks like. For example, a norm about being present and engaged could mean showing up on time, making eye contact, and having materials ready. By defining what adhering to each norm looks like, teams create a shared understanding that minimizes misinterpretations. Additionally, identifying what behavior contradicts each norm adds further clarity, ensuring everyone is on the same page.
The following template engages your team in an activity to reflect on each team norm, to describe its purpose and to articulate what it looks like, what it does not look like and how we will respond when the norm is not upheld.
Proactive Problem Solving
To truly integrate norms into team culture, it’s important to anticipate scenarios where norms might be broken and agree on proactive ways to address these situations. For instance, if a team member is late, a team might agree to first check if they’re okay before gently reminding them of the norm. Or if a norm around maintaining a solutions-focused mindset is broken, the team might decide to take a collective deep breath and then refocus the conversation. These predetermined responses make it easier to address challenges in a constructive, team-centered way.
Ultimately, norms are about creating clarity and deepening team cohesion. As teams unpack each norm and define it together, they build a foundation for sustainable collaboration.
As we continue the conversation, we’d love to hear how your team establishes and unpacks its norms. What has worked well? How have these guidelines shaped your teamwork? Connect with us to share your stories or explore additional resources. We look forward to hearing from you and supporting you in strengthening your team’s culture.
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Examining Collaborative Team Meetings - Establishing and Reinforcing Norms
Are you still using Google docs, spreadsheets and One Note to record your meeting docs?
Join Jennifer as she walks through the Collaborative Team Meeting process in WeCollab, ensuring that multiple student profiles are updated with the determined supports and actions simultaneously through the collaborative conversation and that staff remain informed through transparent communication processes.