Nuts and Bolts

Meeting norms are set ground rules or expectations on how people treat each other at a meeting, and as part of an ongoing team. These are collective commitments, public agreements shared by all members of the group.

Norms are…

  • simple, powerful statements about the way meetings can be run.
  • commitments agreed upon collectively.
  • consistent reminder of fundamental meeting guidelines.
  • focus on respecting all participants.
  • brief in number (Teams should focus on a few critical norms rather than an extensive laundry list).

Developing Norms

As each individual considers what is important to them in group meetings, it will be the sharing of these ideas, and coming to group consensus that brings all participants ideas together in a list of norms that all agree to accept and follow.

In Action

If a team is not functioning effectively – the first step is to revisit the meeting norms. Are team members following the norms? If not, how can you get back on track?

Meetings, regardless of size or length, are more effective when meeting norms are established, practiced and monitored. These are the most common norms:

  • Begin and end on time
  • Be an engaged participant
  • Be an active listener—open to new ideas
  • Use notes for side bar conversations
  • Use electronics respectfully

Being clear about our expectations in large groups and in small groups can help save and respect everybody’s time.

In your Collaborative Data Teams, you may choose to use this list or create your own to better meet your needs. Sometimes schools create school-wide norms so that whenever small or larger groups in the school meet, the norms are the same. The point is – norms are an important part of effective teams WHEN they are honored and monitored. Creating table tents used at every meeting, or norm posters in every meeting room, or included on each agenda are ways to remind teams of the meeting norm.

Questions to Consider

Why should we create Norms?

https://www.aea267.k12.ia.us/system/assets/uploads/files/380/whyshouldwecreatenorms.pdf

If you have meeting norms, are they working? Of these or your own norms, which one do you feel is the most important? Which of your norms or these listed above is the hardest one to maintain/monitor? What prompts do you use when norms in your meetings are violated?

Significance of Team Norms

When all is said and done, the norms of a group help determine whether it functions as a high-performing team or becomes simply a loose collection of people working together.

Positive norms stick only if the group puts them into practice over and over again. Being explicit about norms raises the level of effectiveness, maximizes emotional intelligence, produces a positive experience for group members, and helps to socialize newcomers into the group quickly. (Goleman, 1998)

Assessment and Reflection

How do we demonstrate we are using norms? (e.g. Evidence: copy of norms; agenda with norms listed; norms posted in the room, building, etc.; norms mentioned in the minutes, and verbal reference in meetings)

  • Do teams operate by developed norms?
  • Do teams review norms before each meeting (i.e. verbally, on minutes, posted, etc.)?
  • Do members reflect on their adherence to the norms at the end of the meeting and identify next steps if needed?
  • Have agreed upon norms been internalized (requiring no reminders of references)?
  • Are reminders of agreed upon norms included?

Want to download our content instead? Check out the materials below.

Participant Materials

Participant Slides Participant Handouts
CDT Norms CDT Agenda Handouts

Presenter Materials

Presenter Slides
Norms