Creating a Collaboration Contract requires thoughtfulness to ensure clarity, efficiency, and empowerment for all participants. Here are some leading practices to guide you.

1. Focus on Clear Decision-Making

• Clearly define decisions to be made. Avoid vague or overly broad items.
• Example: Instead of “Plan Marketing,” use “Select Ad Campaign Agency.”

2. Balance Roles Among Participants

• Encourage diverse roles across decisions. Avoid overloading one participant with sole decision-making responsibilities.
• Watch for patterns where one participant abstains from all decisions, which may indicate disengagement.

3. Regularly Revisit Contracts

• Contracts are living documents. Encourage participants to review and adjust roles as necessary to reflect team dynamics.

4. Facilitate Open Discussions

• Encourage transparency in resolving conflicts.
• Example: If two participants select Explain, facilitate a discussion to align on a single decision-maker.

For more on handling role dynamics, see Understanding Role Conflicts.