Creating Team Working Agreements
A Team Exercise
Strong teams do not just share goals. They share clarity about how they work together, especially when things feel urgent or uncertain.
This exercise helps leadership teams make implicit expectations explicit so that when pressure rises, the team has something steady to return to.
Time Required: 30–40 minutes
Materials: Paper and pens, Post-it notes, or a shared document or whiteboard
Step 1: Set Expectations (1 minute)
Begin by framing the purpose of the exercise.
This is not a performance conversation, a values exercise, or a space to revisit old grievances. The goal is to clarify how the team works under pressure so that decisions become easier and trust remains intact.
You might say:
“This is not about doing more or fixing everything today. It is about getting clearer on how we work together when things move fast.”
Step 2: Start with a Real Scenario (5 minutes)
Rather than thinking in general terms, anchor the exercise in reality.
Ask the team to picture a moment that feels familiar. This might be:
A time-sensitive decision
Competing priorities
Incomplete information
Strong opinions in the room
Using post-it notes, ask the team to individually reflect and write in response to the following prompts:
When things are moving quickly, what do I need from this team to stay effective?
What behaviors from others help me contribute at my best under pressure?
What behaviors make it harder for me to do good work in those moments?
Encourage honesty and specificity. This is about naming what is true, not what sounds ideal.
Give everyone about five minutes to write.
Have participants write their reflections directly onto Post-it notes, using one idea per note. Let the team know they will share their insights in the next step.
Step 3: Map What Comes Up (10 minutes)
Quietly invite team members to place their Post-it notes under the following categories:
Helps Us Move Well
Slows Us Down
Creates Confusion
Once all notes are posted, give everyone a minute to review what is there. Then, as a group, reflect together:
What patterns are emerging?
What feels familiar?
What has likely gone unnamed until now?
Resist the urge to problem-solve at this stage. This step is about awareness, not solutions.
Facilitator note: Your role here is to listen. It can be tempting to explain, clarify, or defend. This is the team’s opportunity to surface shared insights.
Step 4: Decide How You Will Work Together (15 minutes)
Now move from observation to alignment.
As a team, complete each of the following statements. Aim for one clear sentence per prompt:
When things move fast, we will prioritize…
When we disagree, we will…
When clarity is missing, we will…
These statements form the core of your Team Working Agreements.
Clarity matters more than perfection.
Step 5: Name the Drift (5 minutes)
Finally, normalize reality.
Ask the team to complete this sentence together:
One way we tend to drift away from these agreements when stress is high is…
This is not about blame.
It is about awareness and shared responsibility.
Looking ahead: Using Your Team Working Agreements
These agreements are not meant to live on a wall or in a document. They are most useful when pressure is high.
Revisit them:
At the start of a high-stakes meeting
When the team feels stuck or reactive
As a quick reset when urgency starts to drive decisions
Even naming one agreement out loud can help your team slow down, refocus, and move forward with intention.