Team Charter Template
A team charter template to align a team on purpose, goals, roles, ways of working, and decision-making — the operating manual every team needs.
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What you get
- A complete charter structure from mission to working agreements
- Prompts to define roles, decision rights, and communication norms
- A meeting cadence and ways-of-working section
- A facilitation flow to build the charter together
Template preview
The structure, not the finished file. The PDF and CSV carry the complete version.
Charter header
- Team name
- Team lead
- Members
- Last reviewed
Purpose & goals
- Mission— why this team exists in one sentence
- Top goals this quarter— 2–4 measurable outcomes
- How we measure success— the metrics we own
- Who we serve— internal/external stakeholders
Roles & responsibilities
| Member | Primary responsibilities | Backup / cover |
|---|
Decision-making rights
| Decision type | Who decides | Who is consulted | Who is informed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day-to-day execution | |||
| Prioritisation / roadmap | |||
| Hiring within the team |
Ways of working (agree as a team)
- Core collaboration hours and timezone expectations
- Where we communicate and expected response times
- How we run and prepare for meetings (agenda, no-agenda-no-meeting)
- How we give and receive feedback
The preview stops here; the template continues in the download.
How to use this template
- Co-create it. Draft the charter in a working session with the whole team so it reflects shared commitments, not a manager's wishlist.
- Be concrete. Replace vague aspirations with specific norms — response times, meeting rules, and decision rights.
- Make it visible. Store the charter where the team works and reference it when onboarding or resolving friction.
- Revisit quarterly. Review the charter each quarter and after major changes so it stays a living agreement.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a team charter and company values?
Company values describe culture across the whole organisation. A team charter is your team's operating manual — purpose, goals, roles, decision rights, and the specific norms for how this team works day to day.
Who should write the team charter?
The whole team, together. A charter imposed by a manager rarely sticks. Co-creating it in a working session builds the shared commitment that makes the norms real.
How often should we update it?
Review it quarterly and after any major change — new members, a reorg, or a shift in goals. The charter is a living agreement, not a one-time document.