Rules of the work process

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Work process rules keep all team members working efficiently and in sync. Think of them as the essential day-to-day operational guidelines that govern how work gets done.

Example: Decide how handoffs should occur. When a team member completes their part of a project, they should leave a detailed summary and next steps in the task description. Make it a rule that files and assets should be uploaded to a central folder with standardized naming conventions to improve accessibility.

5. Time management and meeting protocol
These rules ensure your team stays efficient, engaged and focused, without wasting hours on unnecessary tasks or overstuffed meetings.

Example: Make it a rule for team members to block focus time on their calendars to avoid unnecessary meeting requests. Set a policy for asynchronous communication, such as recording meeting summaries and sharing them with purchasing directors email list those who can’t attend live.

6. Conflict resolution rules
Rules for resolving disagreements help maintain professionalism and minimize disruptions.

Example: Create a 24-hour cool-down rule before escalating issues to allow for more thoughtful conversations and better problem-solving.

Learn more: How to optimize team performance during the execution phase

How to create effective team rules
Creating team norms is essential to keeping everyone working effectively. When carefully crafted, these norms can help your team stay focused, resolve conflicts, and achieve collective goals with minimal friction.

Here's how to create effective rules that are meaningful and long-lasting.

Step #1: Start with a clear purpose
Team norms are the foundation of how your team operates. To truly benefit from them, you need to establish their purpose. Help your team understand why these norms are necessary or what specific challenges they will address.

Without a clear purpose, standards are nothing more than a dead letter.

Here's how to get it:

Identify weak points: Take note of problems such as missed deadlines, lack of communication or lack of clarity in decision making.
Define goals: Address challenges with practical goals, such as improving schedules or increasing accountability.
Set key performance indicators (KPIs): Track progress with key performance indicators (KPIs), such as the percentage of tasks completed on time