Decoded! The 5 Stages of Team Development Explained

Following the team’s forming, the storming stage of group development takes place. Also called the power struggle phase, group members often experience conflict and competition between one another as ideas are formulated and methods of performing a task are disagreed upon. The storming stage of group development may be compared to living with a roommate for a short time and beginning to realize the differences in how tasks are carried out between each person. Norms result from the interaction of team members during the development process. Initially, during the forming and storming stages, norms focus on expectations for attendance and commitment. Later, during the norming and performing stages, norms focus on relationships and levels of performance.

By recognizing these stages, we can adapt our leadership style to the needs of the team. During this time, group members experience conflict and a lack of productivity as leaders emerge and ideas are exchanged. Group members are more confident in their abilities than during the previous forming phase, meaning that disagreements will be established and a power struggle will likely occur.

Forming stage

To remedy this problem, put processes in place that make it easy for designers, for example, to see how content is developing so that they can anticipate when they’ll be able to complete their updates. Stage is when teams begin to develop close relationships, and the group demonstrates cohesiveness. With a better grasp of shared goals and solidified group structure, members will feel a more profound sense of camaraderie and shared responsibility for the project. About 10 years after Tuckman created his original 4-stage model, he then added a fifth stage, which is Adjourning. More often in the corporate world, cross-functional teams will be formed for a project and then disperse at the end of the project.

These people are frustrated and weary, but as soon as they realize that the stage they’re in is natural and expected, they are able to navigate their way out and into the next stage. At the Performing stage, managers should keep encouraging team decision-making and problem solving as the team members have the knowledge, experience, and trust in each other. As the team becomes increasingly self-sufficient, its managers can gradually delegate their responsibilities to the team members to give them more opportunities for growth and free more time for strategic tasks. At this stage, the team goals may already be clear, although its members may have different views on the best ways to achieve them. Managers should help the team consider everyone’s point of view and allow each member to contribute to relevant team discussions.

Managers need to support each team member and ensure they can contribute and their peers are not blocking them. Frequent 1–1s allow managers to help their team members cope with issues and find a place in the team. While teams move through the four stages in sequence, the phases may overlap or be repeated. If group members are able to evolve to stage four, their capacity, range, and depth of personal relations expand to true interdependence. In this stage, people can work independently, in subgroups, or as a total unit with equal competencies. As you learn about their progress, you ask them questions about their processes and notice how they collaboratively provide constructive answers.

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With everyone trying to fit in, the communication during this stage is typically in a polite manner, so members may be less inclined to voice their own opinions. Rina, the leader of the Bug Banisher Team, comes to Mr. Marcus thirty days after the initial meeting. She has a laundry list of issues to discuss, and none of them is pleasant. Nicole from marketing has scheduled focus group sessions, but the final prototype of the Banisher will not be completed in time for the first session. In the performing stage, consensus and cooperation have been well-established and the team is mature, organized, and well-functioning. There is a clear and stable structure, and members are committed to the team’s mission.

This is to say that, even when things aren’t going smoothly, each person should assume that their “challenger” is coming from a good place and is trying to act in the best interest of the team. Each team member should also try to analyze their reason for inciting potential conflict from the other person’s point of view. According to our Project Management Statistics 2021, an astonishing 92% of people believe that collaboration with their teammates could be improved.

During the Storming stage, team members may argue or become critical of the team’s original mission or goals. All good things must come to an end; and this is also true of groups. After a group has successfully completed their task, they must dissolve or disband from both the task and group members. This adjourning stage is used to wrap up activities of the group and provide a sense of closure to its members.

Forming Stage

Team leadership Support managers with the tools and resources they need to lead hybrid & remote teams. The forming stage can be most compared to the first day of school or the first day at a new job. The setting is unfamiliar and uncertain to each team member as they learn about https://globalcloudteam.com/ their fellow peers. The first meeting between a team often consists of introductions, stating the purpose of the group, and outlining deadlines and task assignments. After a group has completed their task they must dissolve and disband from both the task and group members.

Team performance increases during this stage as members learn to cooperate and begin to focus on team goals. However, the harmony is precarious, and if disagreements re-emerge the team can slide back into storming. Tuckman’s final stage of group development, adjourning, was not originally part of his development model. During this closure or mourning phase, the group dissolves or disbands following the successful completion of their main objective. Adjourning is used to wrap up the activities of the group and provide team members with a sense of closure or fulfillment. The closure phase also allows time for reflection between individuals or the group as a whole, enabling them to recognize the valuable experiences which transpired or the skills which have been built upon.

As you communicate with them you notice how confidently they articulate their ideas. You book 1-on-1 meetings with team members to learn about each of their experiences. As you do this, you recognize clear and consistent points with each team member and the benefits of hosting a team retrospective.

Norming Stage

Your role here is to act as the team’s champion, securing resources and minimizing roadblocks in the organization. Your participation should be much more focused on how the team is tackling problems rather than solving the problems for them. You will still raise issues, ask questions, and challenge approaches, but more to validate the team’s conclusion than to drive it. Leadership belongs to everyone on the team, and the team owns its results.

• A sense of community is established, and the group remains focused on the group’s purpose and goal.
• All good things must come to an end; and this is also true of groups.
• But you have to find a way to make sure team members are aligned and on the same page.
• In the storming and adjourning stage conflicts might occur and they are something very common within teams.
• At the Storming Stage, managers should ensure the team members agree on the team norms and keep following them.
• Leaders of a team in the Forming stage have a lot of responsibility in helping the team come together.
• Don’t rely on your own perspective; get a broader view of the situation.

Download a spreadsheet with each of the characteristics you can observe at each stage of the forming, storming, norming and performing process. Being part of a high-performance team can be a rewarding experience for those on the team. But if the team does not reach the high performing stage it can be extremely frustrating for team members. Being a high performing team requires time and commitment on the part of all on the team to get to that stage.

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Individuals focus on defining and assigning tasks, establishing a schedule, organizing the team’s work, and other start-up matters. In addition to focusing on the scope of the team’s purpose and means of approaching it, individuals in the formation stage are also gathering impressions and information about one another. Since people generally want to be accepted by others, during this period they usually avoid conflict and disagreement. Team members may begin to work on their tasks independently, not yet focused on their relationships with fellow team members. Keep reminding the team to check in with each other regularly in person or via instant chat, but stay out of their way. They will waste time and lose their focus if they have to answer frequent, unscheduled questions about what they’re working on.

Decoded! The 5 Stages of Team Development Explained

Team members feel ambiguous and conflict is avoided at all costs due to the need to be accepted into the group. Team members look to a group leader for direction and guidance, usually CORAL project guides. As a new project phase starts new teams are formed and the members will go through the stages. New team members joining established teams will go through a very personal version of the stages as they settle in. Leaders need to be prepared to effectively coach team members by validating their concerns and providing tangible resolutions.

Stage 2: Storming

This leads to a period known as storming—because it can involve brainstorming ideas and also because it usually causes disruption. During the storming stage members begin to share ideas about what to do and how to do it that compete for consideration. Team members start to open up and confront one another’s ideas and perspectives. The forming stage involves a period of orientation and getting acquainted. Uncertainty is high during this stage, and people are looking for leadership and authority.

The Norming Stage

“Resolved disagreements and personality clashes result in greater intimacy, and a spirit of co-operation emerges.” This happens when the team is aware of competition and they share a common goal. In this stage, all team members take responsibility and have the ambition to work for the success of the team’s goals. They start tolerating the whims and fancies of the other team members.

As mentioned before, these stages usually pass naturally regardless of if each participant knows or not. Knowing each step and what it is supposed to do will allow each member to get the maximum out of the experience and not miss anything that could be a critical part of team building. Although norming is a calm stage what are the four stages of team development of team development, there are still things that you can and should do to help things run more smoothly. This period of norming also creates a safer space for people to share work and give feedback. This is because, after storming, everyone is now working together more happily towards the overall project goal.