Below are some ideas for team ground rules.

Ground rules:
  • — Reflect team values
  • — Create the atmosphere in which goals are achieved
  • — Help the group deal constructively with conflict
  • — Define responsibilities of group members
  • — Provide a guideline for the conduction of meetings
  • — Establish methods of participation, communication, and decision making

Ideas for Ground Rules:
Attendance
  • A high priority is placed upon meeting attendance
  • Legitimate reasons for missing a meeting are _.
  • Members should contact if they cannot attend.
  • Number of members that must be present for a meeting to be held.
Promptness
  • Our meetings start and end on time.
  • Adhere to time limits unless the group agrees to change them.
Preparation
  • Everyone is responsible for coming prepared to the meeting with the required materials.
Participation
  • Everyone has equal opportunity to participate
  • Keep discussion on track
  • Wait until one topic is discussed before pursuing another
  • Use constructive criticism
  • Avoid value judgments
  • Suggest alternatives
  • Be honest and to the point
  • Avoid gossip
Conversational Courtesies
  • One person speaks at a time while everyone else listens
  • Respect other members’ contributions and ideas
  • Avoid interrupting other
Assignments
  • Complete assignments on time
  • Help team members
Interruptions
  • Agree on acceptable interruptions (phone calls, pagers, etc)
  • The “100-mile rules” – “No one should be called form the meeting unless it is so important that the disruption would happen even if the meeting was 100 miles away from the office.”
Decision Making
  • Before making a decision, determine appropriate decision making rule. Choose from:
    • Minority Rule
    • Majority Rule (vote)
    • Consensus
    • Other
  • Quality is valued over quantity or speed
  • Base on data if possible
  • Research alternatives before making final decision
Confidentiality
  • What is said in the meeting stays in the meeting unless the entire team agrees to share
Other Possible Categories
  • Role assignments
  • Meeting evaluation method
  • Chronic violations of ground rules