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Documenting Expected Behaviors

Guest post by: Robert Whipple

Article Overview: In creating a Strategic Framework, many organizations forget to include a documented set of expected behaviors. This is actually a critical step to do well. This article walks through a porcess of documenting behaviors. It is not rocket science, but it must be done.

Documenting Expected Behaviors

Many groups find it helpful to construct a list of behaviors to go with the values, vision, and mission. This is a set of statements defining how we treat each other and how we conduct ourselves. Construct these with the same care as the values, vision, and mission. They also form the bedrock to test against. Although the values exercise starts with the leader alone, the statement of expected behaviors needs to be a group process from the outset. Having agreement with the majority of people is crucial. If you are not in a leadership position the list of behaviors will be for yourself.

There are literally hundreds of things you could put on this list, but it is better kept short. You can always modify it later if there are glaring omissions. There are no right or wrong items as long as there is solidarity to do what is listed. Attitude is the key. This is not a legalistic set of rules to enslave, but a pact the team agrees to follow.

To illustrate, this list of behaviors was created by one of my teams and worked well for many years:

• When in conflict we will try to see the situation from the other's perspective.

• We will not leave a meeting with a "silent no" - we will commit together.

• We will listen to each other but not beat dead horses (80/20 rule.)

• We will build an environment of trust.

• We will work together on a finite number of common goals.

• We will be more inclined to ask for and offer help.

Your list should reflect your own needs and vision.

It is critical to have a concrete list of behaviors because it will allow the team to call out members who are not living by our intentions. The reason this is so important is that the ability to stay on track requires the entire team to act in accordance with the expectations. When there is a set of behaviors on the wall it makes it very easy to mention to a tardy team member that one of our key behaviors is punctuality.

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Article Tags: behaviors, culture, Leadership, mission, success, trust, values, Vision



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