Too many teams in the workplace today are struggling with productivity, critical problem-solving, and conflict, which is costing them money and team members every year. Social contracts can take care of many of these issues, and many times, they are dramatically underutilized by organizations. A tightly worded, action-oriented Social Contract can become the glue that holds a team together when conflicts or changes throw things into a tailspin. It can be a guidepost when emotions threaten to take over. In addition to setting expectations and standards, a Social Contract is an agreement that provides team members with referential blueprints that can help them to know how to both act and react. What exactly is a Social Contract? Keep reading to learn why a Social Contract is a vital element in any organization.

Defining a Social Contract

Leaders who have already implemented Social Contracts in their organizations know this dynamic document to be the bridge between aspiration and reality. However, you may be wondering what the bones of a Social Contract look like for the average organization. A Social Contract is a document that defines an agreement between all team members that includes the following:

• A commitment or promise.
• Steps for sustaining the commitment or promise.
• Steps for remediation if the commitment or promise is missed.

Social Contracts can be vital when there is shuffling among teams or when trying to rebrand or revitalize an underperforming, conflicted team. Business leaders know that overcoming obstacles that hold teams back includes identifying shared vision and purpose, aligning responsibility, establishing mutual accountability, and having disciplined execution toward goals. However, most find it difficult to create a North Star to point to when it feels like collaboration isn’t happening or performance is lacking. By establishing a social contract, business leaders can create a single executable document that brings together:

• Clear core values.
• Agreed-upon principles of performance.
• Specified leadership competencies.
• Clear assessment metrics.
• Remediation steps.

How Social Contracts Boost Morale and Accountability

A social contract is not something that’s intended to feel like an edict from a high throne! The role of a social contract is to clarify standards in a way that gives team members empowerment and security instead of leaving them to stumble around regarding expectations and outcomes. As an aspirational document, it allows team members to see who they want to be. A Social Contract is also capable of being a document that sets expectations without taking on a punitive feel, with benefits such as: 

• Enhanced personal and professional relationships gained through an understanding of boundaries and shared goals.
• Fearless expression of diverse viewpoints without fear of being reprimanded or “stepping on toes.”
• A culture of sincere apologies and corrections.
• Responsive leadership that is open to feedback.
• Power through vulnerability, humility, and sacrifice.

Supporting a Social Contract

In order for a Social Contract to remain a living document, it must be fed! This means that ongoing implementation is needed. When the document is first introduced, one-on-one meetings can help team members to receive and provide feedback without feeling exposed. As the Social Contract begins to allow seeds of trust and collaboration to bloom, meetings regarding deviations from the social contract can be done in real-time or during larger group meetings. Of course, references should be made to the social contract during routine team meetings. 

The Social Contract should also be referenced during annual planning processes. In addition to formulating policies with the Social Contract as a guidepost, leaders should also assess the contract to judge if any relevance-based adjustments are needed to align with evolving team goals and dynamics.

Establishing a Social Contract for Your Team

Does it feel like your team is floundering amid conflicts or loss of direction? Disconnection arising from conflicting generational values and beliefs, cultural and political polarization, mile-a-minute technological advancements, and economic and geopolitical uncertainty all make a Social Contract a very necessary stabilization point amid the constant tumult. Teamalytics is a leader in building strong teams for a complex world.Schedule a consultation today to explore how we can build your team a custom social contract that addresses the weak points that are stifling progress.