Functional groups generally have standing plans (policies and rules) to help provide the necessary guidelines for behavior. However, groups tend to form their own unwritten rules about how things are done.

Norms are the group’s shared expectations of its members’ behavior. Professional norms determine develop indicating what should, ought to, or must be done. Members, influenced by leaders, determine what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior, such as how to talk and dress. Violations of norms is usually sanctioned to encourage cooperation.

If a team member does not follow the norm, the other members may try to enforce compliance—peer pressure. The common ways teams enforce norms include ridicule, ostracism, sabotage, and physical abuse. You most likely have experienced peer pressure at school, socially, and at work.

Team norms can be positive, helping the team meet its objective(s), or they can be negative, hindering the group. Be aware of the group’s norms, and work toward maintaining and developing positive norms while trying to eliminate negative norms. Confront groups with negative norms and try to work out agreeable solutions to have positive norms.