Language reference

Here are some examples of the language you can use when discussing ways of working with your team.

Setting the agenda

What we want to do today is to agree a way of working as a team.

Let’s first go around the table and hear what people understand by the concept of teamwork.

Then we can begin to negotiate and agree on the behaviours and protocols we want.

How does that sound to everyone?

Asking for preferences

What is your definition of “team” and “teamwork”? Can you draw what our team should look like on the flip chart?

How do you like to communicate and collaborate? What are your expectations regarding emails?

Stating preferences

As my picture shows, for me “team” means lots of sharing and interaction.

I think that working independently is really efficient / is not very collaborative.

We should try to limit the number of emails we send to each other.

In conference calls, everyone should contribute. I don’t think that silence is acceptable.

Negotiating behaviours

What protocols do you think we should set for meetings/emails?

How shall we share key information?

What’s the best way for us to take decisions? What is important/unacceptable for you?

Clarifying and confirming

Is it your expectation that we have no more than two team meetings per week?

Are we saying that native speakers should speak last in calls to avoid them dominating?

Do we all agree that blaming and criticizing others in the team is unacceptable?

Can we agree that emails should normally be answered within 24 hours?

Summarizing agreement

OK, so we’ve agreed that we don’t send emails at the weekend.

Everyone has agreed to respond to emails within 24 hours.

If anyone criticizes another team member openly, then we will remind this person of our team rules. I think we should review our “rules of engagement” every month/at the end of the year. OK?