Working agreements, also known as “team agreements,” are a set of guidelines and rules that a team establishes to ensure clear communication, shared expectations, and accountability. These agreements are essential for any team that wants to work efficiently and productively. In this article, we’ll outline the main benefits of working agreements and why they’re critical for team success.

1. Clear Communication

One of the primary benefits of working agreements is that they promote clear communication between team members. When everyone understands what is expected of them and how to communicate effectively, it eliminates the chances of misunderstandings, delays, and unproductive meetings. Working agreements that outline communication expectations, such as use of email, Slack, or other messaging systems, can facilitate timely responses and collaboration.

2. Shared Expectations

Working agreements help establish a shared understanding of what the goals and expected outcomes of a team’s work are. This is particularly helpful in cross-functional teams when different departments may have different expectations for work completion. Working agreements help teams avoid misunderstandings and ensure that everyone is on the same page. This aspect of working agreements also helps build mutual trust and respect for each other`s roles, responsibilities, and workloads.

3. Improved Accountability

Establishing a working agreement ensures that every team member knows what is expected of them and the consequences of not meeting those expectations. When teams work without an agreement, it can be difficult to hold individuals accountable for their responsibilities. However, with clear guidelines in place, individuals and the team as a whole can be held accountable for the work they produce, deadlines they meet or miss and their overall performance.

4. Increased Productivity

Teams that establish working agreements are more productive because they have clear expectations and roles. By defining specific parameters and boundaries, team members can focus on their individual responsibilities while feeling confident in their team`s mutual work goals. They can work more effectively and efficiently, with their respective tasks in sync with one another.

5. Continual Improvement

By establishing working agreements, teams set themselves up for success, but also allow room for improvement. Teams that regularly evaluate their working agreements can identify areas that need improvement and, with support, can create new working agreements or improve the existing ones. Doing so, teams can strengthen their collaboration, communication and teamwork.

In conclusion, working agreements are fundamental for effective teamwork and team success. They promote clear communication, establish shared expectations, increase accountability, improve productivity, and allow room for continual improvement. By establishing working agreements upfront or revisiting them often, teams can benefit from working more effectively, collaboratively, and enjoyably.