Online Yellow Belt

Project Team Ground Rules

This document contains information about setting team ground rules that
may be useful when forming your team.

Contains:

1. Introduction to ground rules

2. Template for filling in your own ground rules

3. Suggestions for behavioural ground rules

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out a hard copy for your records.

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Copyright © 2011 Process Management International Ltd

Project Team Ground Rules www.pmi.co.uk
 Online Yellow Belt

Ground Rules
Setting ground rules allows the team to formulate expectations to guide the Decision-making
administrative and behavioural functions of the team’s operation. • Who will be responsible for the agenda?

• Administration ground rules describe how the team will work together — • Who will record meeting minutes? Who should receive a copy of the
organisation, meeting mechanics, etc. minutes?

• Behavioural ground rules make explicit the desired and agreed upon norms • What kind of decision-making process should our team use? Possible
of behaviour. choices: autocratic, expert, autocratic with input from the team, majority
rule, consensus, unanimous consent.
The following administration questions will help your team come up with ground
rules for working together.
Logistics
• How often do we want to meet?
Roles • How long will our meetings be?
• How will the team leader be selected?
• When do we want to meet?
• Will team leadership rotate? Monthly? Never?
• Where do we want to meet?
• Who will keep time? How will proceedings be recorded?

• How will a facilitator be selected? Or, how will the team take care of
facilitation needs?

Copyright © 2011 Process Management International Ltd

Project Team Ground Rules www.pmi.co.uk
 Online Yellow Belt

Behavioural
What behaviours do we consider important in the healthy functioning of the
team?

Consider issues such as:

• Punctuality

• Preparedness

• Confidentiality

• Listening

• Contribution rates

• Modes of speech

• Handling disagreement and criticism

• Handling dysfunction

• Work allocation

Copyright © 2011 Process Management International Ltd

Project Team Ground Rules www.pmi.co.uk
 Online Yellow Belt

Project Team Ground Rules

Behavioural Ground Rules Administrative Ground Rules

Project Title: Date:

4

Copyright © 2011 Process Management International Ltd

Project Team Ground Rules www.pmi.co.uk
 Online Yellow Belt

Suggestions for behavioural ground rules:

• Be punctual

• Be prepared

• Always listen to others

• Always speak to others with respect

• Avoid contributing too much or too little

• Treat all team meetings as confidential

• Mobile phones off

• Challenge ideas, not the person

Copyright © 2011 Process Management International Ltd

Project Team Ground Rules www.pmi.co.uk