Stages in team development

Every team in every organization goes through certain phases and stages as it evolves. Learning about the stages in team growth helps a leader help the team grow together. For this, one needs to understand the various stages that a team and the team members go through and how leaders can help trust to transition between these stages. Of the many models given, Tuckman’s 4-stage model is the most popular and has subsequently led to many other models. When a team is in the process of getting created, like every other model, it goes through certain predictable growth stages.

In 1965, Bruce Tuckman, a well-known American psychologist and researcher, proposed a theory of group dynamics that described the distinct phases of development as the forming– storming–norming–performing model of group development, maintaining that all the 4 stages are necessary for a team to go through, in order for it to grow, face up to challenges, tackle issues, find solutions, plan and deliver results.

Team members tend to show certain traits and behaviors in each stage, and each stage has its own highs and lows; in each stage individuals assume the roles as needed and slowly, through the stages, get to know and understand and adapt with each other. A brief understanding of each stage is as follows:
Forming: This first stage is all about getting to know each other. It is the first step in the transition from being a group of people into a properly functioning team. During this stage, members slowly get to know each other, get comfortable with each other and start to build the strings of confidence and the bonds of trust in each other as well as with their leader. Of course, this is also the stage where people start to understand each other and the initial bonds of trust are built.

Forming Stage – a Leader’s Role
In the forming stage, there can be tendencies of individuals not being comfortable with each other or the organization’s policies, not being able to focus discussion properly on relevant points, not speaking out too much, and having fewer interactions with each other.
As a leader, it is critical to help the team to start to get to know each other and work with them through this phase stage in a very positive and nurturing way. In this stage, a leader needs to consistently do some of the following things:

• Open communication channels in the team
• Keep information flow transparent
• Define the purpose and goals of the team
• Clarity in roles and responsibilities

Storming: As people start to get comfortable with each other in the forming stage, they soon start to voice out their opinions and ideas easily. This leads to a number of viewpoints and thus begins the storming stage. Here, the team members can be defensive or questioning about various other team members and the management too. This is the stage where conflicts and potential conflicts in a team surface and the team is given a chance to resolve them effectively.

Storming Stage – a Leader’s Role
The storming stage can be a difficult and challenging stage for a team. During this stage, a leader dons multiple roles, including that of a mediator, a motivator, and sometimes even a counselor. In this stage, a leader needs to consistently do some of the following things:

• Resolve conflicts constructively
• Understand decision-making processes
• Appreciate the differences in each other
• Be sensitive to non-verbal communication
• Exhibit respect for individuals while being assertive.

This stage in a team’s evolution can get to be a very emotionally charged time for many team members; so a leader may need to also develop the ability to read between the lines and get an understanding of how the team is progressing
Norming: As a successful team solves various conflicts constructively, it starts moving into the norming stage. In this stage, members slowly become used to working with each other. Conflicts are fewer and the team members start to work more productively and comfortably with each other to accomplish goals. This is the stage where a team can start getting into what experts call a well-oiled machine. The team members adapt to each other and create a working synergy.

Norming Stage – a Leader’s Role
In the norming stage, the leader needs to continue to find opportunities to sustain and transition trust by encouraging and recognizing both the individual and the group achievements. S/he needs to have consistent communication within the group and with self. In this stage, a leader needs to consistently do some of the following things:

• Have regular one-on-one and team meetings
• Adapt one’s styles by understanding those of others
• Informal team events and team building activities
• Big picture and milestone progress

Performing: As a team matures, it smoothly starts to accomplish a significant amount of work easily and effortlessly. In this performing stage, all the team members easily participate and collaborate with each other effectively and independently by working with each other without needing to put in a conscious effort. In the performing stage, the team members tend to complement each other to achieve results.

Performing Stage – a Leader’s Role
By the time the team reaches the performing stage, the teamwork or even leadership will start to appear very effortless. The team has an ease within itself and follows established processes and has consistent communication happening seamlessly. Some of the points that a leader can execute in this stage so as to create an environment of trust and synergy include:

• Communication in the team
• Create ownership within individuals
• Effective delegation
• Celebrate successes

Understand where your team is in the Tuckman model…

You have the power!

Revathi Turaga is an International Trainer and Inspirational Speaker.http://www.revathionline.com