Team BuildingIntermediate

Team Canvas

A structured alignment tool developed by Alex Ivanov that helps teams get on the same page about purpose, roles, goals, values, and working rules. Modelled on the Business Model Canvas, it makes team dynamics explicit and discussable. Particularly valuable for new teams, teams under stress, or teams going through change.

Duration

1h–2h

Group size

3–12 people

Materials

Team Canvas template (printed or digital), sticky notes, markers

Origin

Community

How to run it

1
Print or display the Team Canvas template with sections: People & Roles, Common Goals, Personal Goals, Purpose (Why), Values, Rules & Activities, Strengths & Assets, Needs & Expectations, Weaknesses & Risks.
2
Work through each section as a group, with participants writing on sticky notes before discussing.
3
Start with Purpose — agree on why the team exists before discussing how.
4
Move to Goals: distinguish team goals from individual goals.
5
Define Values: what principles guide your work together?
6
Set Rules: what agreements will you operate by?
7
Review and finalise the completed canvas together.
8
Post it somewhere visible. Revisit quarterly.

Tips

Don't rush the Purpose section — misalignment here causes friction everywhere else.
The Rules section should produce specific agreements (e.g.
'No emails after 6pm'), not vague values ('We respect each other').

Variations

Run a 'Basic' version in 30 minutes covering only Purpose, Goals, and Rules. Use the full canvas for deep team formation or team reset sessions.

Where it fits

New team formationTeam resets after conflict or changeAgile team kick-offsCross-functional team alignment

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Method descriptions on Workshop Weaver are original content written by our team, based on established facilitation practices. This method was inspired by work from Community.