As an educator you are most likely a part of collaborative teams. As a part of those teams you probably created and followed norms. Furthermore, even teams who are not asked to create norms should do so. Why is this important? Why do norms matter? Let’s take a look at norms and why they are such a big deal.
Norms are Behaviors that Lead to Better Collaboration
What exactly are norms anyway? Norms are a list of behaviors that lead to better and more focused collaborative culture. These norms define the focus of collaboration and how we will communicate with each other. In additiion, they help define the roles of collaborators and how decisions will be made. Ultimately, the norms are the collective commitments by the group to each other. Norms are an evolving document and should be adjusted as unanticipated behaviors arise. Norms should not be an exhaustive list but there should be of a sufficient number to describe how teams work together.
Norms Guide Conversation When There is Conflict
Having norms in place helps to guide the conversation when conflicts arise. In addition to creating
norms, teams should create multi-level responses that will occur when a norm is violated. These responses
can range from the simplest non-verbal gesture to emails and conferences with supervisors. Many norm
violations are minor or unavoidable and are handled as such with a simple acknowledgement. The multi-level
responses are used for consistent, willful, and open violations of team norms agreed upon by the team.
By having these reponses in place, norm violations are addressed, reponses are made by the team, and a
renewed committment to the process can be made. Without norms being established and written down with
reponses, the conflict can easily digress into a laundry list of negativity instead of a conversation
on the importance of a norm itself in the collaboration process. Conversations around violations of
written norms can remain centered on the norm that was violated.
Norms Define the Use of Collaborative Time
Norms guide the process. Norms define what collaborative time is used for and how conversations will be conducted. Too many times, conversations drift completely away from the intended focus. Only when norms define the focus of collaboration are the team members empowered to draw the conversation back to its original intent. A norm has been broken and simply calling attention to that fact often allows the group to get back on topic. At times, team members tend to take a “back seat” role in the team process and allow others to perform important tasks for the team. Having an effective set of norms to guide the process can minimize the likelihood of this occurring by carefully defining roles and responsibilities.
Norms Need Periodic Adjustment
Norms are not static. Norms need to evolve with the makeup and understanding of the team and are not the same from one team to the next. Some teams, especially inexperienced teams, may need far more details than an experienced team that has worked effectively as a team in the past. Even experienced teams will find that norms need to be changed over time as unanticipated behaviors occur–both good and bad–and teams learn what works best for them. Futhermore, as the makeup of teams changes, norms may need to be adjusted to spell out more details for less experienced members to whom certain behaviors may not be as obvious as they were to experienced team members. Even teams whose makeup has not changed will often find the need to adjust norms to address unexpected or unintended results from collaborative meetings.
Norms Allow Teams to Manage Themselves
Norms allow teams to manage themselves within the broader framework of the organization itself. In the book, Concise Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (Mattos et al, Solution Tree Press, 2016), the authors state, “Commitments can only be made by the individuals who are expected to honor them.” If teams are to manage themselves, it is important that they make appropriate commitments to each other about how they will conduct themselves. And, it is important that these commitments stay within the framework of the goals, purpose, and stategies of the organization for which they do their work. Absent these commitments with each other or the lack of will to enforce these commitments, the goals of the organization as a whole will not remain the center of focus and will likely fail. Having norms does not eliminate conflict, but it serves as a reminder of team commitments and provides a basis for discussion when conflict arises (Mattos et al,
2016).
Norms are Necessary in an Effective Team
In order for collaborative teams to stay focused and effectively use collaborative time, norms matter. While it is important that teams not use too much time deciding how to work together; the creatiion, review, and enforcement of norms are necessary in ensuring that the collaborative work done by the team is the right work and not just work. If teams fail to resolve issues that occur during collaborative time, the team will not function effectively. Norms lead to better conversations about what collaboration should be about and the use of norms help resolve conflicts when they occur.
[Note: Many of the thoughts, processes, and information described in this article are discussed in the book, Concise Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Professional Learning Communities at Work(R) by Mike Mattos, Richard DuFour, Rebecca DuFour, Robert Eaker, and Thomas W. Many, who have done extensive work in the areas of team collaboration and Professional Learning Communities.]