Fundamentals
Team Session → Facilitation Guide
Team Norms & Values: Group Session
Goal:
Each individual will be defining their own Norms and corresponding believed values.
Then together as a team you will consolidate individual norms into a single, shared canvas.
Vote and refine norms so that everyone understands and agrees.
Align norms with core principles of motivation (Purpose, Autonomy, Mastery) and other categories relevant to the team.
Time Required: ~60–90 minutes (depending on team size and depth of discussion)
Participants: All team members
Materials Needed:
The collective canvas (projected or displayed on a large screen or whiteboard).
Password is "norms-drive-performance".
Here is the Canvas in PDF form (in case you want to do it on paper - print on A3)
The AI-script instructions for the individual norms creation.
Sticky notes or a digital collaboration tool (if remote).
Dot stickers or the digital equivalent for voting.
Step 1 → Individual Norms Creation
Why this step matters
This step ensures each team member reflects on their own experiences and ideas for norms before contributing to the group canvas. By starting individually, you’ll gather a wider range of insights and each individual will be more invested in the group discussion. Also it's fun to see what everyone comes up with!
Option 1: Pre-work Assignment
Send this AI script and instructions ahead of time for team members to complete individually before the group session.
Send the Instructions:
Share the AI Norms Creation script (provided earlier) with your team.
Encourage them to run through the following key steps with the AI:
Identify observed behaviors (good and bad).
Define norms that address these behaviors.
Uncover the underlying believed values.
Deliverable:
Ask each participant to add their results (norms + values) to their individual Excel sheet or a shared template.
Let them know they will share their results during the group session.
Option 2: Live Hybrid Exercise During the Group Session
If team members have not completed pre-work, allocate 15–20 minutes at the start of the group session to complete the individual exercise. This works well if all participants are in the same room.
Set the Context (2–3 minutes):
Explain the purpose of this exercise:
We’re going to individually reflect on team behaviors and define the norms and values that matter most to us. This sets the stage for our group discussion.”
Run the Exercise with AI (10–15 minutes):
Have team members individually follow these steps:
Describe a behavior they observed (good or bad).
Ask AI to suggest 5 norms for that behavior.
Confirm and refine their favorite norms.
Determine the underlying believed value for their norms.
Follow the script as outlined here.
Add to the Canvas (5 minutes):
Ask each team member to write their norms on sticky notes (or digital equivalents) and place them on the “NORM” section of the canvas.
Add the corresponding believed values under the “VALUES” section.
Outcome of this Step:
Each team member contributes thoughtful, pre-defined norms to the group canvas.
The group starts with a rich set of ideas, saving time and ensuring everyone’s input is represented.
The norms and values shared are well-formed, clear, and actionable.
You can integrate this step as Step 0.4: Individual Norms Creation under the "Getting Started" section or as an Intro Step during the group session.
Step 2: Share and Merge (5-Minute Sharing)
Introduction (1–2 minutes):
The facilitator welcomes everyone and briefly explains the session’s objectives:
“We’re here to combine each person’s norms into a single shared canvas, ensuring alignment among our team.”
Individual Sharing (~5 minutes per person):
Each team member takes up to 5 minutes to read or summarize the norms they have in their Excel sheet (or personal notes).
As each member speaks, the facilitator (or the member) writes or copies these norms onto the canvas in the NORM section.
Tip: If a norm already exists on the board (same concept, different wording), just add a small mark (e.g., star or initial) to note that multiple people proposed it.
Outcome: A consolidated view of all norms on the team’s canvas.
Check for Duplicates/Overlap (2–3 minutes):
After all participants share, quickly scan the canvas for duplicates.
Combine or cluster norms that are essentially the same idea.
End Result of Step 2:
A shared board of the team’s norms, capturing everyone’s input.
Step 3: Reflect & Refine
Dot-Voting (~5 minutes):
Give each participant 3–5 dot stickers (physical or digital).
Instruct them to vote on the norms they feel strongly align with your team values or have the biggest positive impact.
Encourage participants to distribute their dots however they see fit (all on one norm or spread out).
Vote or Strong Disrecommendation (~5 minutes):
Optionally, allow each member to place a “negative vote” or “disrecommendation mark” on any norm they feel is unhelpful or potentially problematic.
This ensures the team can spot norms that may be controversial or misunderstood.
Team Discussion (~10 minutes):
Review norms with the most votes to confirm they resonate with the majority.
Discuss norms that got negative votes or zero votes—do they need rewording, or should they be removed altogether?
Refine any wording that might be vague, confusing, or overly broad. Make the norms actionable and clear.
End Result of Step 3:
A curated set of norms, with clear language and alignment with team sentiments.
Step 4: Review & Finalize
Review Motivational Drivers (~5–10 minutes):
Draw on Dan Pink’s motivational drivers: Purpose, Autonomy, and Mastery.
Check how each refined norm supports one or more of these drivers:
Purpose: Does the norm foster a sense of greater mission or meaning?
Autonomy: Does it enable or clarify how individuals can self-manage?
Mastery: Does it encourage growth, improvement, or skill development?
Organize into Categories (~5 minutes):
Group norms under logical categories. Use the labels on the canvas (e.g., “Team,” “Customer Success,” “Individual Contribution,” “Process Efficiency,” etc.) if provided, or create your own.
Ensure coverage of all areas important to the company (team cohesion, client satisfaction, quality control, etc.).
Check for Gaps (~5 minutes):
Ask: “Are there any missing areas or norms we need to add?”
If anything is missing, quickly brainstorm additional norms.
Finalize Norms & Values (~5 minutes):
Confirm the final set of norms (the newly refined list on the board).
Identify any underlying values (or “Believed Values”) that unify these norms. You could place these values under the “Values” row in the canvas.
Give each norm a final sign-off—the team agrees that these are the guiding principles going forward.
End Result of Step 4:
A finished canvas with clearly defined norms, categorized and aligned with your team’s core values and motivational drivers.
Outcome
By the end of this session, you’ll have:
A Shared Canvas – One consolidated board listing the entire team’s norms.
Refined and Approved Norms – Each norm is updated to be actionable, relevant, and supportive of team goals.
Identified Underlying Values – A clear sense of the guiding principles behind these norms (Purpose, Autonomy, Mastery, etc.).
Team Norms & Values: Group Session
Goal:
Each individual will be defining their own Norms and corresponding believed values.
Then together as a team you will consolidate individual norms into a single, shared canvas.
Vote and refine norms so that everyone understands and agrees.
Align norms with core principles of motivation (Purpose, Autonomy, Mastery) and other categories relevant to the team.
Time Required: ~60–90 minutes (depending on team size and depth of discussion)
Participants: All team members
Materials Needed:
The collective canvas (projected or displayed on a large screen or whiteboard).
Password is "norms-drive-performance".
Here is the Canvas in PDF form (in case you want to do it on paper - print on A3)
The AI-script instructions for the individual norms creation.
Sticky notes or a digital collaboration tool (if remote).
Dot stickers or the digital equivalent for voting.
Step 1 → Individual Norms Creation
Why this step matters
This step ensures each team member reflects on their own experiences and ideas for norms before contributing to the group canvas. By starting individually, you’ll gather a wider range of insights and each individual will be more invested in the group discussion. Also it's fun to see what everyone comes up with!
Option 1: Pre-work Assignment
Send this AI script and instructions ahead of time for team members to complete individually before the group session.
Send the Instructions:
Share the AI Norms Creation script (provided earlier) with your team.
Encourage them to run through the following key steps with the AI:
Identify observed behaviors (good and bad).
Define norms that address these behaviors.
Uncover the underlying believed values.
Deliverable:
Ask each participant to add their results (norms + values) to their individual Excel sheet or a shared template.
Let them know they will share their results during the group session.
Option 2: Live Hybrid Exercise During the Group Session
If team members have not completed pre-work, allocate 15–20 minutes at the start of the group session to complete the individual exercise. This works well if all participants are in the same room.
Set the Context (2–3 minutes):
Explain the purpose of this exercise:
We’re going to individually reflect on team behaviors and define the norms and values that matter most to us. This sets the stage for our group discussion.”
Run the Exercise with AI (10–15 minutes):
Have team members individually follow these steps:
Describe a behavior they observed (good or bad).
Ask AI to suggest 5 norms for that behavior.
Confirm and refine their favorite norms.
Determine the underlying believed value for their norms.
Follow the script as outlined here.
Add to the Canvas (5 minutes):
Ask each team member to write their norms on sticky notes (or digital equivalents) and place them on the “NORM” section of the canvas.
Add the corresponding believed values under the “VALUES” section.
Outcome of this Step:
Each team member contributes thoughtful, pre-defined norms to the group canvas.
The group starts with a rich set of ideas, saving time and ensuring everyone’s input is represented.
The norms and values shared are well-formed, clear, and actionable.
You can integrate this step as Step 0.4: Individual Norms Creation under the "Getting Started" section or as an Intro Step during the group session.
Step 2: Share and Merge (5-Minute Sharing)
Introduction (1–2 minutes):
The facilitator welcomes everyone and briefly explains the session’s objectives:
“We’re here to combine each person’s norms into a single shared canvas, ensuring alignment among our team.”
Individual Sharing (~5 minutes per person):
Each team member takes up to 5 minutes to read or summarize the norms they have in their Excel sheet (or personal notes).
As each member speaks, the facilitator (or the member) writes or copies these norms onto the canvas in the NORM section.
Tip: If a norm already exists on the board (same concept, different wording), just add a small mark (e.g., star or initial) to note that multiple people proposed it.
Outcome: A consolidated view of all norms on the team’s canvas.
Check for Duplicates/Overlap (2–3 minutes):
After all participants share, quickly scan the canvas for duplicates.
Combine or cluster norms that are essentially the same idea.
End Result of Step 2:
A shared board of the team’s norms, capturing everyone’s input.
Step 3: Reflect & Refine
Dot-Voting (~5 minutes):
Give each participant 3–5 dot stickers (physical or digital).
Instruct them to vote on the norms they feel strongly align with your team values or have the biggest positive impact.
Encourage participants to distribute their dots however they see fit (all on one norm or spread out).
Vote or Strong Disrecommendation (~5 minutes):
Optionally, allow each member to place a “negative vote” or “disrecommendation mark” on any norm they feel is unhelpful or potentially problematic.
This ensures the team can spot norms that may be controversial or misunderstood.
Team Discussion (~10 minutes):
Review norms with the most votes to confirm they resonate with the majority.
Discuss norms that got negative votes or zero votes—do they need rewording, or should they be removed altogether?
Refine any wording that might be vague, confusing, or overly broad. Make the norms actionable and clear.
End Result of Step 3:
A curated set of norms, with clear language and alignment with team sentiments.
Step 4: Review & Finalize
Review Motivational Drivers (~5–10 minutes):
Draw on Dan Pink’s motivational drivers: Purpose, Autonomy, and Mastery.
Check how each refined norm supports one or more of these drivers:
Purpose: Does the norm foster a sense of greater mission or meaning?
Autonomy: Does it enable or clarify how individuals can self-manage?
Mastery: Does it encourage growth, improvement, or skill development?
Organize into Categories (~5 minutes):
Group norms under logical categories. Use the labels on the canvas (e.g., “Team,” “Customer Success,” “Individual Contribution,” “Process Efficiency,” etc.) if provided, or create your own.
Ensure coverage of all areas important to the company (team cohesion, client satisfaction, quality control, etc.).
Check for Gaps (~5 minutes):
Ask: “Are there any missing areas or norms we need to add?”
If anything is missing, quickly brainstorm additional norms.
Finalize Norms & Values (~5 minutes):
Confirm the final set of norms (the newly refined list on the board).
Identify any underlying values (or “Believed Values”) that unify these norms. You could place these values under the “Values” row in the canvas.
Give each norm a final sign-off—the team agrees that these are the guiding principles going forward.
End Result of Step 4:
A finished canvas with clearly defined norms, categorized and aligned with your team’s core values and motivational drivers.
Outcome
By the end of this session, you’ll have:
A Shared Canvas – One consolidated board listing the entire team’s norms.
Refined and Approved Norms – Each norm is updated to be actionable, relevant, and supportive of team goals.
Identified Underlying Values – A clear sense of the guiding principles behind these norms (Purpose, Autonomy, Mastery, etc.).