The Team Norming Process

What Is Discovering Team Operandi?

Team operandi is the team contract to work together successfully. When teams articulate their operational expectations and contract their working arrangement (meaning they have mutually agreed on the rules for working together) they make significant steps toward accomplishing synergistic results.

The stages of forming, storming, norming and performing are commonly discussed and taught concepts of team building fundamentals. Conventional wisdom is that once a team forms, it naturally goes through a conflict stage called storming. Unfortunately, most teams never successfully move beyond the storming stage and either disband or function at a lose/lose compromise decision level, which renders the team ineffective. The phase of team development where the team establishes rules for working together is called norming. The disappointing reality is that most teams never evolve to this point. Those that do are often left to struggle through without benefit of structure or guidance.

The net result of Discovering Team Operandi (DTO) is that the storming stage is bypassed or eliminated; the tension, frustration and dysfunction that often accompany storming is not experienced by team members and, therefore, the team has a positive experience and momentum to carry them into accomplishing effective results.

How Discovering Team Operandi Fits into the Advanced Team System

The Discovering Team Operandi module is part of Volume I of the Advanced Team System, a comprehensive guide to teamwork that is made up of three volumes. In order to experience the full benefit of the program, you will need to purchase the Volume I Master Facilitator Guide, Driving Team Performance. The Master Facilitator Guide includes the materials you will need to successfully lead a Discovering Team Operandi workshop and guide a team to the norming stage of teamwork.

Master Facilitator Guide, Volume I includes an introduction to Volume I and description of the master facilitator’s role; the modules Discovering Team Operandi, Unifying Team Purpose, Driving Team Performance and Making Team Decisions, plus one participant workbook for each module; answer sheets; and black and white masters for presentation overheads.

Additional Workbooks

Purchase other Volume I Workbooks.

UTP Workshop
The Driving Team Performance workshop incorporates Discovering Team Operandi. We can customize and present a customized Driving Team Performance at your location. Find out more or contact us for more information.

Leadership & Teamwork Seminars and Coaching
We also offer a variety of leadership, teamwork and coaching seminars. Find out more or contact us for more information.