RMT Element #3: The Practical Tool for “Do No Harm, Work as One.”
In every workshop I’ve facilitated, I have found that even teams with clear goals and good intentions still get stuck. They often lack a reliable structure for transforming their work processes and interpersonal behaviors.
Work Agreements are the practical tools that ensure teammates make the accountable choice to find solutions. They describe how this group of teammates will Do No Harm, Work as One®.
When conflict arises, the Decision-Maker in every teammate faces only two overarching choices:
- Stay in the “Lower Loop” of attack and defense → Do Harm
- Move into the “Upper Loop” of accountability → Do No Harm
A Success Story: The Power of Proof
One Field Operations team I facilitated experienced a total turnaround by committing to their Work Agreements. By choosing Reason over Ego-based bickering, they achieved, within one year:
- 78% increase in teammate trust.
- $350,000 in measurable cost savings.
At the three-month mark, when they began to slip into old patterns, one teammate pulled out their Work Agreements and asked: “We’ve already agreed how to address this, haven’t we?” That was their Moment of Reason—the shift where a team stops being a victim of circumstances and starts owning its destiny. Here’s the full $350k story.
What Are Team Work Agreements?
A Work Agreement is not a flimsy “ground rule,” team game, or a meeting icebreaker. It is a serious, emotionally mature promise to transform non-productive work behavior. To ensure psychological safety at work, the RMT process shows you how to create two primary types:
- Process Agreements: These describe who does what. They define roles, responsibilities, and procedures.
- Behavioral Agreements: These describe how people will behave and resolve conflict, ensuring the team remains “Do No Harm, Work as One®“ even under pressure.
Element #3: The Engine of the 5-Element Framework
In the RMT 5-Element Framework, Work Agreements are the third step. If the Business Goal (#1) is your destination and the Psychological Goal (#2) is your map, the Work Agreement is the engine that actually moves your team towards achieving those goals.
Ready to Build Your Team’s Engine?
The full, 10-step process for facilitating these agreements—including real-world examples and interlocking accountability templates—is detailed in my book.
As a retired facilitator, my function is now to support your journey. If you have questions about implementing these tools in your team, please reach out.
May Oneness be With You & Your Teammates 🙏
Dan Hogan, Certified Master Facilitator
P.S. New here? You can learn more about my 40-year mission to help teams Do No Harm and Work as One® on my About Page.
