Team Contracts
Team contracts: An overview of their uses and importance.
Responsibilities and Expectations
Why are Team Contracts Important?
A team contract outlines the standards that are expected to be met by all team members.
It is agreed to at a team meeting and signed by all members. The idea behind it is to encourage a collaborative and supportive environment amongst the team, as well as to clearly set out individual responsibilities.
Characteristics of Team Contracts
- A team contract is most commonly used when a new team is formed, as it can help to bring the team together and set clear responsibilities for members who may be new to the department or organisation.
However, a team contract can also be introduced to an existing team to try and improve performance levels. If certain team members appear to be putting in more effort than others, then a team contract may be introduced to encourage equal levels of commitment from all members.
What do Team Contracts Include?
Amongst other things, a typical team contract will include:
- Individual responsibilities
- Meeting times
- Overall objectives