How To Start A New Team

I am working to create several teams within a 19 person group to task on several ongoing projects within the department. I need to give them a format to begin with for team developement. Do you have a simple format I could use?

The Team Doc Says…

Simple is relative. Using a structured process to set your team up for success is critical. First you need to identify an executive sponsor for each team — perhaps that is you. This is the person who will be a champion for the teams.

You also want to define a clear purpose for each team along with scope and boundaries that will help them move in the right direction.

There are three phases to team building for success — 1) Team Definition, 2) Team Chartering, 3) Team Evolution.

1. Team Definition — The initiation phase in which the core team is established, high level business objectives and expected outcomes are identified and the team’s vision is created.

2. Team Chartering — The planning phase in which business needs are validated, resources are acquired, purpose and scope are identified, and the mission and boundaries are approved.

3. Team Evolution — The execution, measurement and control phase in which teams work the plan. This phase requires teams to measure their success against the business objectives established in the charter. As business needs change, the team will cycle through the various process steps to ensure their direction is still valid and to improve their performance.

The High Performance Teaming (HPT) process steps identify inputs, actions, and outputs which manage the team building process. Here are the actions you need to take to charter your teams for success.

1. Team Definition

• Establish Core Team

• Define Business Objectives and Expected Outcomes

• Understand Customer Need

• Create Team Vision

• Acquire Concurrence from Sponsor and Customer

2. Team Chartering

• Validate Business Need

• Define Purpose and Scope

• Define Skill Requirements

• Acquire Needed Resources

• Define Mission and Boundaries

• Establish Operating Guidelines

• Define Roles and Responsibilities

• Create Measurable Objectives

• Develop Work Plans

• Develop Communication Plans

• Acquire Buy-in From Sponsor and Customer

3. Team Evolution

• Execute the Work Plan

• Monitor/Measure Attainment Against Goals

• Exercise Conflict Management

• Continuously Improve Processes

• Validate Business Purpose, Scope and Boundaries Against Current Business Needs

• Review and Learn From Experiences

• Reward and Celebrate Successes