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Team Charter Template

Document your team’s mission, guiding principles, roles, and ways of working with a clear Team Charter Template and improve collaboration and accountability.

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Benefits of the Team Charter Template

  • Ready-to-use and customizable: A practical framework you can adapt for project teams, interdepartmental teams, or permanent departments.
  • Accelerates alignment: Clarifies the team's mission, scope of work, decision-making rights, and working methods, so the team spends less time debating and more time getting things done.
  • Promotes accountability: Transforms informal understandings into documented agreements, clearly defining responsibilities, milestones, and key performance indicators (KPIs).
  • Supports people management: It serves as an effective reference for new hires, performance discussions, and review and evaluation sessions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Team Charter and why is it useful?


A Team Charter is a formal agreement among team members that outlines the team's purpose, objectives, roles, operating guidelines, and norms. It serves as a roadmap for how the team will function, make decisions, and interact. In HR or organizational contexts, a charter helps ensure that all stakeholders—team members, management, and cross-functional partners—share clarity about the team’s mission and boundaries.

When should we create a Team Charter?

Typically when:

  • A new team or task force is formed
  • There is ambiguity around roles, decision-making, or expectations
  • The team is cross-functional or spans departments
  • Performance or coordination issues arise

Starting with a charter from day one helps prevent misalignment and conflict later.

What elements should a good Team Charter include?

A comprehensive charter generally comprises:

  1. Team Purpose / Mission
  2. Scope and Deliverables
  3. Goals / Objectives
  4. Roles & Responsibilities
  5. Communication & Decision-Making Protocols
  6. Operating Norms / Working Rules
  7. Meeting Rhythm / Governance
  8. Conflict Resolution & Escalation
  9. Review & Update Plan
  10. Signatures / Commitment

Each element should be clear, measurable where possible, and jointly agreed by team members.

Who is responsible for drafting and approving a Team Charter?


The team leader (or sponsor) often initiates the draft, but it should be co-created with the team. After discussion and alignment, the team formally approves the charter (via signatures or digital acknowledgment). The team leader, HR, or an oversight committee may review it periodically.

Can a charter change over time?


Absolutely. A charter should be revisited when the team’s mission changes, membership evolves, or challenges arise. Include a schedule (e.g. quarterly or annually) to review and revise the charter together so it stays relevant.

How does a Team Charter improve team effectiveness?

  • Reduces ambiguity about roles and responsibilities
  • Accelerates onboarding of new members
  • Improves alignment with organizational goals
  • Reduces conflicts by clarifying norms and protocols
  • Facilitates tracking of progress and accountability