The Team Charter Template is a new addition to PMBOK 8 that defines how the project team will work together. Unlike a project charter (which authorises the project), the team charter establishes the team's operating norms, values, decision-making processes, and communication agreements. It is a tool for building high-performing teams through shared expectations.

What's Included in This Team Charter Template?

This free PMBOK 8 Team Charter Template is a structured Word document with the following sections:

• Team Information — project name, team name, project manager, and version date.
• Team Purpose & Mission — a clear statement of why the team exists and what it aims to achieve.
• Team Members & Roles — a table listing each member's name, role, responsibilities, and contact information.
• Team Values & Working Agreements — the norms the team commits to (respect, accountability, transparency, quality, collaboration).
• Communication Plan — meeting cadence, channels, participants, and purpose.
• Decision-Making Process — how the team makes routine, consensus, and escalated decisions.
• Conflict Resolution — a step-by-step escalation path for disagreements.
• Team Agreement & Signatures — signature block for all team members.

Why the Team Charter Is New in PMBOK 8

PMBOK 8 introduced a stronger emphasis on the human side of project management. The team charter reflects this shift by recognising that project outcomes depend not just on tools and processes but on the quality of team relationships and shared norms. Teams with a clear charter:

• Resolve conflicts faster — because the escalation path is agreed in advance.
• Make decisions more efficiently — because the decision-making process is clear.
• Communicate more effectively — because channels and frequency are agreed upfront.
• Perform better — because shared values create psychological safety and trust.

How to Use the Team Charter Template

1. Facilitate a team session: Don't fill the charter alone. Bring the team together to co-create it. This builds ownership and commitment.
2. Start with purpose: Agree on why the team exists before defining how it works.
3. Define values collaboratively: Ask each member what they value in a team. Find common ground and document specific behaviours, not abstract words.
4. Agree on communication channels: Which meetings are mandatory? Which messages go to Slack vs. email?
5. Clarify decision rights: Who decides what? Avoid decision-making bottlenecks by being explicit.
6. Get signatures: Signatures make the charter a team commitment — not just a document.
7. Review and update: Revisit the charter when new members join or when team dynamics shift significantly.

Team Charter vs. Project Charter

These two documents are often confused:

• Project Charter: Authorises the project, names the project manager, and defines high-level scope, objectives, and budget. Signed by the sponsor.
• Team Charter: Defines how the project team operates — their norms, values, and agreements. Created by and for the team.

Related PMBOK 8 Templates

• Project Charter Template — the document that authorises the project.
• Resource Management Plan — defines roles and how the team will be managed.
• Stakeholder Engagement Plan — covers communication with external stakeholders.
• Project Team Assignments Template — records who is assigned to which work packages.

Building a High-Performance Team with the Charter

According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), high-performing project teams share three characteristics: clear purpose, mutual accountability, and psychological safety. The team charter directly supports all three. Use this free PMBOK 8 template at your project kickoff and revisit it at every major phase transition to reinforce the team's shared commitments.