Team Agreements

05/01/2025

Let’s Talk About Trust.

Trust doesn’t just show up because we’re doing the work. It takes intention.

I was recently asked to build a training on trust, and I found myself reflecting on how often we assume trust is already there—only to discover the cracks later.

We can unintentionally erode trust when we avoid conflict, over-focus on compliance, or simply fail to communicate. One that really sticks with me is the idea of assuming trust.

Just because we’re in the same room—or even on the same team—doesn’t mean trust is automatic.

You’ll know trust is missing when there’s micromanaging, triangulation, or when collaboration turns into duplication.

Trust needs maintenance. And more importantly, it needs to be visible in how we treat one another.

So let me ask:
How do you build and maintain trust in your program or team?

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/thinking-trust-deidre-harris-zvlqc

I was recently asked to develop training on Trust, and I thought I would share some of the information here. Let’s start with Oxford’s definition of Trust – “Firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.

04/09/2025

Does Your Team Have a Vision?

A highly effective team doesn’t just work together—they move in the same direction with a shared vision. But too often, teams don’t have a clear understanding of how their daily actions align with their organization’s goals.

A strong vision acts like a roadmap, guiding every decision and interaction. Good teams know the vision. Great teams create their own vision for their classrooms and ensure their work ties into the bigger picture.

Have you and your team defined your vision? If not, now is the perfect time to start.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/does-your-team-have-vision-deidre-harris-qx43c

08/03/2021

Just imagine… It’s the end of your first day, your first week, your first month of the new school year, and it couldn’t have gone any better!

The children are on board, having learned the routines and expectations.

Families are onboard and happy because school has started, and their children are happy and doing well.

Question: What needed to be in place to increase the likelihood of this happening? How did your team support you, the children, and the families to make this all come true?

Let your imagination run wild and then comment down below and let me know what came up!

07/03/2020

As we think about reopening, we know that school will look very different. There will be many new regulations and changes that we’re just beginning to consider.

07/03/2020

https://teamagreements.com/blog/agreements-vs-rules

As we think about reopening, we know that school will look very different. There will be many new regulations and changes that we’re just beginning to consider.

06/21/2020

When was the last time you apologized to a team member?

06/21/2020

When was the last time you were the cause of a conflict between you and your team members? What did it take to gather your courage and admit it?

06/21/2020

Conversations that “weigh us down” tend to be emotionally charged and therefore intimidating.

06/21/2020

A courageous conversation is when you speak up and express how you feel about issues that are weighing you down.

06/21/2020

Start off with the question of what would a perfect day in my classroom or family care setting look like? What would I see or hear that would make it perfect? What would the environment look like?

06/21/2020

Highly effective teams have a clearly defined direction or vision. Like a road map, they are clear about the destination and what it looks like when they get there.

06/21/2020

A Highly effective or great team will have two or more people with a higher sense of commitment towards the objectives or mutual purpose.