My Team's Behavior

Choose this exercise

Purpose: Identify agreed helpful and unhelpful working behaviors to guide day-to-day team norms.

Use it when: Use during team formation, project kickoffs, or reset meetings when a group needs explicit working expectations.

Skip it when: Skip during acute personal conflict or disciplinary crises where open boards can invite indirect blaming.

Group arrangement: Independent writing, whole-room or small-group sorting, and a final full-room discussion.

Timing: UWT suggested 25 minutes to allow quiet generation, structured sorting, and actionable synthesis.

Materials and tools

• 2 sticky note pads in contrasting colors per group of 4 (one color for Great Behavior, one for Not Great Behavior)
• Fine-tip markers (one per participant)
• 1 large whiteboard, chart paper, or digital board with two columns: Great Behavior and Not Great Behavior
• Masking tape (if mounting chart paper)

Before participants arrive

1. Divide the board or wall space into two clear columns labeled 'Great Behavior' and 'Not Great Behavior'.
2. Designate which sticky note color corresponds to which column.
3. Place sticky note pads and markers within easy reach of each participant.

Say this to open

Welcome. Today we are setting shared expectations for how we treat each other and coordinate our work. We will use two columns: Great Behavior and Not Great Behavior. Please write specific actions for each column rather than personal critiques or names. For example, write 'shares project updates before deadlines' rather than 'be a better communicator.' You can write as many as you like. If you prefer to reflect quietly during the writing phase, you can contribute during the discussion instead.

How to run it

1. Introduce prompts and write quietly 5 minutes

   Read the opening script. Direct participants to write specific behaviors on sticky notes independently, using one behavior per note. Assign one note color for 'Great Behavior' and the second color for 'Not Great Behavior'. Silence during this step gives everyone time to formulate concrete descriptions.

2. Post and cluster similar behaviors 7 minutes

   Have participants post notes into matching columns. For 8 or fewer people, cluster related notes together as a full room. For 9 to 24 people, divide into small teams of 3 to 5 (for instance, 13 splits into 4, 4, 5; 17 splits into 4, 4, 4, 5). Assign each team a section of the board to cluster duplicates side by side.

3. Clarify and discuss themes 8 minutes

   Review the main clusters as a full room. Address ambiguous cards by asking for neutral, concrete examples. Limit whole-room comments to 1 minute per cluster so the discussion covers both columns. Note where the group has consensus and where interpretations differ.

4. Summarize actionable norms 5 minutes

   Select two to three 'Great Behaviors' and two to three 'Not Great Behaviors' that the group agrees will guide everyday collaboration. Record these four to six summary statements where everyone can see them.

Debrief questions

• Which behavior on our board will make the biggest positive difference if we follow it consistently?
• What should a team member do if they notice a 'Not Great Behavior' starting to happen?
• How will we revisit these expectations as our project progresses?

Finished output: A two-column chart of team behaviors with an agreed summary of 4 to 6 core behavioral norms.

Remote

Create an online whiteboard with two columns labeled 'Great Behavior' and 'Not Great Behavior'. Use contrasting digital card colors for each column. Set a 5-minute timer for silent card generation. If the group exceeds 8 people, assign breakout rooms to cluster specific columns or sections before returning to the main room to finalize norms.

Hybrid

Maintain a single digital board accessible on laptops for all participants, or assign an in-person scribe to mirror physical sticky notes onto the shared digital board in real time. Ensure remote participants speak first during cluster discussions to balance airtime.

Access and participation choices

• Participants may type into chat, dictate notes to a peer, or write privately without reading aloud.
• Anyone may decline to post cards or pass on verbal sharing without explanation.

If the session gets stuck

A participant writes a note targeting a specific colleague's recent mistake.

Intervene immediately to keep focus on general patterns. Ask: 'How can we rephrase this as a general standard that applies to anyone in this role?' Edit the card to remove personal identifiers.

Notes are overly vague, such as 'respect' or 'poor attitude'.

Ask the author or the room: 'What does that look like in daily practice? What specific action would show respect or lack of respect?' Replace the vague note with the concrete action.

Terms used here

• Behavioral norm: An agreed expectation about how people act and interact within a group.