Cindie Becker has the following text in a frame on her office wall. We have been using it as a starting point in the last month or so to frame the culture that is desired inside different teams and meeting structures. I’ve been thinking a lot about team agreements of late and have realized that we often go through the exercise of developing agreements with teams. The problem is that all the teams end up with different rules and the way that these rules play out in cross-functional arenas rarely works. I’ve decided to take a different approach as I think about helping groups define their agreements. It has suddenly crossed my mind that we all must share some common statement of “The Rules of the Game” in order to work collaboratively from common understanding. I wonder if coming to this initial agreement isn’t a first step in this ritual of setting agreements. If we can all agree on a common statement, then our work in individual teams becomes defining those behavioral statements that we need to honor to get us there. The following is the text that is found on Cindie’s wall. It is called:
The Rules of the Game
Be willing to support our purpose, games, rules and goals. Speak supportively. Use verbal acknowledgements to express value for each other. Correct supportively.
Acknowledge whatever is being communicated as true for the speaker at that moment. Complete your agreements. Make only agreements that you are willing to – and intend to keep. Communicate any potential broken agreement at the first appropriate time. Clear up any broken agreement at the first appropriate opportunity. If a problem arises, first utilize the system for corrections, then communicate the problem with alternative solutions to the person who can do something about it.
Be effective and efficient. Optimize every event. Make more with less. Have the willingness to win and to allow others to win. Focus on what works. When in doubt, check feelings out. Agree to disagree until reaching consensus. Tell the truth from a point of view of personal responsibility.
