Introducing "Food for Thought" #59. The formula is simple: three short messages once a week to feed your mind.
Management
What is your collaboration agreement?
The culture, the rules, the alliance, the team contract are all synonymous with your collaboration agreement. It's the most important step in team building, yet it's one that's all too often overlooked.
To establish your agreement, ask yourself the following questions:
- What behaviors, actions and attitudes do you want to see (but also those you don't)?
- How do you want to be, interact and communicate with each other?
- What standards and criteria are essential?
- What is it you don't want to compromise on?
Even before you know who you want to become, you need to know who you are as a team. This understanding will be the foundation of your success.
Teamwork
Defining it together
A collaborative agreement isn't top-down, with a leader imposing his or her ideals. Instead, involve your world in the process.
An agreement worked out as a team is much more likely to be adopted than one imposed by the leader.
Impact
Make it real
Your team agreement should be easy to understand, remember and take ownership of. Create visual aids and checklists to make it as concrete as possible.
Remember, what can't be seen can be forgotten.
