The Team Canvas is a visual organization tool with a special focus on managing teams. It is a relatively new format, as there are other similar business models. Noteworthy predecessors include the Business Model Canvas, the Strategy Sketch, and the Lean Canvas. The thing that makes a team canvas unique from these business models is instead of focusing on external business goals; the Team Canvas focuses on internal elements to manage team alignment. This, along with other differences, are what we highlight throughout this article while answering the question: what makes a Team Canvas unique?
Simplicity
People love simplicity! The intended focus in any digital application is to develop a quick and easy user experience. More traditional team management formats have a relatively steep learning curve. The purpose behind all models was to develop a concise business plan.
Team Canvas took its inspiration from similar visual planning models and cracked the code. The basic template is extremely simple. It typically includes four fundamental quadrants, such as ‘values’, ‘goals’, ‘roles’, and ‘rules’. Team leaders can diversify the template according to their unique project requirements. The geometry is extremely simple, minus complex layers and extensive sub-types.
Integrates Multiple Perspectives
Another unique aspect of Team Canvas is that it upholds a democratic conversation model. It intends to develop a good team structure and open up communication channels between team members so that everyone can include their perspective when building a team dynamic.
Utilizing the different sections, team leaders can enact a transparent value-based system. It helps team members introduce themselves and understand their roles in the project. It also helps them be a part of the enterprise, as integral to the bigger social picture. It is an excellent tool for corporate soul-searching, or how individuals respond to moral business values.
It also assists in bringing all team members on the same page. This aspect is essential to facilitate systematic cooperation, eventually leading to successful projects. Team Canvas opens up dialogues on how the group can deliver better results.
Focuses Internally
Other tools in this niche mainly focus on a visual representation of the business model in question. They classify enterprise priorities into sections and sub-sections in an easily presentable way. Different models focus on various phases of the operations. For example, Lean Canvas focuses heavily on customer relationships, the problems that may arise, and potential solutions. It also deals with revenue models, their setbacks, and suggests solutions.
The Strategy Sketch by Kraaijenbrink is an early precursor. It tries to present the overall business strategy in a segmented rectangular format. It addresses all possible parameters of an enterprise, with a core emphasis on a value proposition. Competitors and partners are represented in opposite ends of the value-base, apparently with the same emphasis.
These models primarily deal with developing a business strategy. This could be a business model, a go-to-market plan, or an outreach strategy. What all of these templates ignore, however, is the internal element. The Team Canvas prioritizes internal operations and allows you to build a board solely focused on creating a positive team dynamic.
It Broadens Team Vision
The scope of the Team Canvas is hugely diverse, as anyone can use it to manage complex team structures. Various case studies with this tool have shown it to be of immense use in verticals like the education sector, hospitality teams, and healthcare.
By highlighting different priorities, goals, values, and strategies, the Team Canvas can be used to create a vastly diverse set of knowledge that teams can build on. Ensuring everyone in the group understands how their role fits in with everyone else and how the team seeks to function provides enhanced transparency about the functions and goals of the team. This is unprecedented with most teams and results in a massive boost in efficiency.
The focus here is not on direct revenue models. Instead, the idea employed here is to formulate better team hierarchies, eventually leading to a positive experience. It adheres to the spirit of cooperation between team members and sorts their contributions on different levels.
Conclusion
While the Team Canvas is often compared to the lean canvas or business model canvas, focusing on internal elements is what makes a Team Canvas unique. This can help increase efficiency and alignment for teams everywhere. If you liked this article, make sure you read up on building a team canvas and its various applications.
