Every book or article about teams highlights the importance of the team's mission, but too often teams don't know why they are formed or what they are to produce. This step is critical. It must be done thoughtfully and completely. It helps you choose and orient the right members and limits the tension and floundering in the Storming stage of team development.

Mission: Leaders who establish teams must clearly articulate the purpose of the team, why it was formed, and how the team's work will contribute to the success of the organization. This is essential to team members gaining/sharing a sense of common purpose and picture of success. It also starts the discussion about how team progress and success will be measured. A well-defined mission also facilitates the communication of the team's purpose to the rest of the organization.

Outcomes: Beyond the "why?" and "why now?" for establishing a team, leaders must also concisely define their expectations in terms of what the team will produce. This should include specifying the customer(s), the deliverables, the timetable/deadline, as well as the stakeholders and their expectations. Plans to achieve these results cannot be defined when the outcomes are fuzzy or unknown.