Leveraging Team Working Agreements for PMP Exam Success: Insights from PMP Exam Prep Power Hour #21
Saket Bansal
Educator ★ PgMP ★ PMP Coach ★ SAFe ★ Agile Coaching ★ Social Media Strategist
In our PMP Exam Prep Power Hour Episode 21, we tackled an important topic that resonates deeply with the People domain of the PMP exam, which constitutes 42% of the exam content. The discussion focused on the critical role of Team Working Agreements in fostering autonomous and self-managing teams, a key competency for project managers aiming to enhance team efficiency and reduce dependency on leadership.
Importance of Team Working Agreements
The concept of a Team Working Agreement is pivotal in project management, especially when initiating new teams. These agreements help clarify the operational norms within the team, such as communication protocols, decision-making processes, and daily operational procedures. For instance, the agreement might specify that team members should use a common tool to update work information before leaving for the day or communicate via email for certain types of discussions.
Strategic Implementation of Working Agreements
The main goal of establishing such agreements is to enable team members to operate independently without the project manager becoming a bottleneck. This is achieved by clearly defining the ground rules and expectations, which are often encapsulated in a document known as a team charter. The team charter not only outlines the working agreement but also includes ground rules and other regulatory expectations to guide team behavior and interactions.
Benefits of Well-Defined Working Agreements
The strategic use of working agreements serves several purposes:
- Enhances Self-Management: Teams are encouraged to take charge of their tasks, make decisions independently, and manage their discipline.
- Improves Communication: Clearly defined communication guidelines prevent misunderstandings and ensure that all team members are on the same page.
- Fosters Accountability: When expectations are clear, team members are more likely to hold each other accountable, leading to a more cohesive team effort.
- Facilitates Efficient Operations: Standardizing procedures like leave notifications or daily updates helps streamline team operations, making the team more efficient and effective.
A Tool for Project Management Excellence
Working agreements are not just administrative tools; they are strategic enablers that help project managers cultivate teams that can sustain their performance and deliver consistently without constant supervision. These agreements are particularly useful in complex projects where coordination and clarity are paramount.
Call to Action for Future Leaders
As we continue to explore essential topics in our PMP Exam Prep Power Hours, we invite all project management professionals to delve deeper into the application of these concepts. By understanding and implementing effective Team Working Agreements, you can prepare not only to succeed in the PMP exam but also to excel in managing real-world projects.
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Stay tuned for more insightful sessions and don't hesitate to reach out with questions or for further discussion on our platforms. Together, let's build teams that are not only efficient but also resilient and self-governing.
Some of the Example PMP Style Exam Preparation Questions related to Team Charter / Ground Rules