Happy Backlog
MAKE EXPECTATIONS EXPLICIT

Create team working agreements people actually own

Working agreements turn invisible expectations into behaviors the team can discuss and improve. Participants propose concrete norms, vote on what matters and use the strongest signals to build a small agreement set the team can remember.

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WHAT IT HELPS YOU DO

Designed for participation, not presentation

01

Behavior-focused proposals

Capture observable ways of working instead of abstract values that mean different things to everyone.

02

Team voting

Let the group signal which proposed agreements deserve commitment and discussion.

03

Editable shared record

Update language as the team learns, with author and Scrum Master moderation controls.

FACILITATOR PLAYBOOK

How to run it well

Keep the mechanics simple so the team can focus on the conversation.

  1. Surface friction and needs

    Ask where coordination, feedback, focus or decision making currently breaks down.

  2. Propose observable behavior

    Write what teammates will actually do when the situation occurs.

  3. Agree and revisit

    Choose a small set, define how the team will notice drift and review them after a few sprints.

SCRUM MASTER TIPS

Small choices that make the activity better

  • Use language the whole team can explain.
  • Include what happens when an agreement is missed.
  • Retire agreements that no longer solve a real problem.
COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently asked questions

What makes a good working agreement?+

A strong agreement is specific, observable, relevant to a real team need and easy to revisit.

Can the team vote on agreements?+

Yes. Participants can support proposals so the group knows where alignment is strongest.

Can agreements change later?+

Yes. The board supports editing and is intended to evolve with the team.

BETTER RETROS · STRONGER TEAMS

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