The Team Canvas
Why Create a Team Canvas
When a team forms it can be a first step into the unknown. Creating a Team Canvas together will provide an initial focal point and define the what, the how, and the why of the team.
Indeed the Canvas creation may be the first activity you complete as a team.
It's not set in stone but it is a great visual foundation to build on.
VAC Toolkit – Team Canvas (or contract or charter)
This Team Canvas is perfect for the Team Forming stage – in fact, it's valuable throughout the entire team lifecycle.
When to Create a Team Canvas (or Charter or Contract)
• A newly formed team
• An influx of new joiners
• Refocusing a team in response to a change i.e. new strategy
Visual Practice Tips
• I like to place the ‘Team Why’ or ‘Value Delivered’ by the Team at the center of the Canvas, but you don’t have to – vote for the most important component specific to your team and place that at the center of your Team Canvas
• Actions, activities, and decisions can be communicated with a mix of words and visuals - an action plan to show what the path to success looks like and try drawing collaboratively to assist team bonding.
• Create a Team Canvas for different aspects of your team rather than squeeze everything onto 1 Canvas i.e. 1 Canvas for Ways of Working, 1 Canvas focused on deliverables – each with their own visual theme