Team Charter Exercise

• Overview
• Components
  • 1) Who We Are
  • 2) Common Goals
  • 3) Core Values
  • 4) Potential Obstacles
  • 5) Ground Rules
  • 6) Communication Plan
• Follow-up
• Sample Charters

PART 4) Potential Obstacles
This is the forward thinking portion of the Team Charter. Based on experience and the previous discussion topics, the goal is to identify obstacles or challenges that the team is likely to encounter. Opening these issues now lays a foundation for future discussions and provides valuable data for developing effective ground rules. The more open and honest the group is here, the more likely they will take personal responsibility for issues that might arise in the future.

BASIC GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
- What are the most common mistakes that you see teams make?
- If you could give a newly forming team one warning, what would it be?
- What are the most likely sources for conflict within your team?
- Where do you think you and your team may be most likely to miscommunicate?
- What are our internal and our external pressures?

CONSIDER THESE TYPES OF OBSTACLES:
Personal style differences
Work styles
Learning styles
Priorities and committments
Time
External pressures
Personalities
Differing expectations
Conflict style (avoid/confront)
Experience
Topical expertise
Logistics
Level of commitment
Perfectionism / control / delegation