From Scrappy to Scaled: How a Team Working Agreement Can Save Your Growing Business

Is your once-cohesive team fracturing under the pressure of growth? Learn how a simple workshop can realign your people and restart your company's momentum.

For many founders, the path from startup success to a struggling, scaling business is a painful one. The small, scrappy team that once operated on instinct and close relationships can start to fracture under the pressure of growth. Communication breaks down, roles get blurry, and the "team" becomes a collection of individuals working in silos.

If this sounds familiar, your company might be facing the challenge of scaling its culture, not just its product or services. A key step in reconnecting a fragmented team is to establish a Team Working Agreement.

What Is a Team Working Agreement?

Think of a working agreement as your team's constitution. It's a set of commitments that define how you'll work together. This isn't just about processes; it's about formalizing a team's purpose, values, roles, and communication norms.

In a founder-led company, the original vision is often so strong it's unspoken. But as you add more people, this unwritten code can create confusion. Team members might operate on assumptions, leading to friction and a focus on individual wins instead of collective success. A working agreement forces these assumptions into the open, creating a shared understanding that aligns everyone.

A Real-World Example

I recently worked with a team that had become a group of independent operators. Communication was minimal, and collaboration was rare. Worse, some individuals had more direct access to leadership, which created a sense of "elevated roles" and led to frustration and distrust among the other members. Morale was low, and the team was on the verge of losing key talent.

Our first step was a workshop to create a working agreement. This session wasn't just about setting rules; it was a reset. It gave every team member an equal voice to share their perspective and define the path forward. By the end, the group had a foundational document that guided future discussions and helped them identify the areas of greatest need, leading to high-impact solutions in a short amount of time.

How to Run the Workshop

As the leader, your role is to facilitate, not dictate. The most important rule of this session is that every single person on the team has an equal voice. This process is not about your vision alone; it's about the team's collective commitment. I often recommend that leaders who are not involved in the day-to-day work of the team do not participate, as their presence can unintentionally impact the psychological safety of the group.

The workshop should be a dedicated 4-5 hour session where the entire team can be fully present. Scheduling this during a natural break (like after a big product launch) is ideal.

Here are the key "must-have" topics to cover:

• Team Name: A simple but important step to create a shared identity.

• Mission: A clear statement of how, what, and why the team exists.

• Values: The core principles that will guide the team's decisions.

• Roles & Responsibilities: Clarifying who does what to eliminate confusion and "turf wars."

• Strengths & Assets: Acknowledging what the team does well.

• Gaps & Growth Opportunities: Identifying areas for improvement.

• Norms / Commitments: Defining practical rules for communication, meetings, and collaboration.

• Events / Rhythm: Establishing the regular cadence of meetings and team activities.

You can also include "add-on" topics like "What We Want to Be Known For" or "Meeting Guidelines." The key is to customize the canvas to fit your team's specific challenges.

Making It Stick

The working agreement is not a one-and-done exercise. It's a living document that needs to be visible and referenced often. Post it in a highly visible location, both digitally and physically. A good rule of thumb is to revisit and update the agreement quarterly to ensure it remains relevant as the team and business evolve.

By proactively creating this shared foundation, you can turn a struggling collection of individuals back into a high-performing team.

Have you ever used a similar tool to help your team align? Let us know: [email protected] Another tool we like in building team trust, is the personal user manual.

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