I've worked with hundreds of teams over the years, and can say without hesitation that teams too quick to start end up losing valuable time downstream.  A well-designed kick-off meeting saves time and produces better results in the long run.

It takes planning, preparation and intention to launch a team properly.  A common, but flawed approach is to spend 2 to 3 hours of the first meeting with an overview of the team charter--and then jump right into work. The most experienced Team Leaders know better. They invest a more time upfront with a deeper discussion about: 

1. Team milestones and objectives     

These are clear, understood and accepted by every team member, and most importantly - have buy-in from all representative functions.  Team Leaders should pressure-test team goals early on - and team members should ensure their individual goals integrate with the team's goals. Assumptions about goals are out in the open, discussed and clarified.   

2.  Interdependencies   

As teams become more and more lean, it's critical to be very clear about how roles and responsibilities of one person will impact someone else's ability to meet a timeline.  They talk frankly about what people need from each other.

3.  Operating procedures

Boundaries and decision making authorities are out in the open.  They are clear about who needs to weigh in on a decision - and who ultimately makes the call.   Operational norms such as meeting management, how they will manage multiple time zones, how they will share information and documents - these are negotiated right up front.

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