Stages of Team Development

• Bruce Tuckman identified a five-stage development process that most teams follow to become high performing
• The stages are: forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning
• Team progress through the stages is shown in a diagram
• Forming stage

  • Involves a period of orientation and getting acquainted
  • Uncertainty is high, and people are looking for leadership and authority
  • Team members ask questions like "What does the team offer me?" "What is expected of me?" "Will I fit in?"
  • Most interactions are social as members get to know each other
• Storming stage

  • Marked by conflict and competition as individual personalities emerge
  • Team performance may decrease as energy is put into unproductive activities
  • Members may disagree on team goals, and subgroups and cliques may form
  • Members must work to overcome obstacles, accept individual differences, and work through conflicting ideas on team tasks and goals
• Norming stage

  • Conflict is resolved, and unity emerges
  • Consensus develops around leaders and individual member roles
  • Interpersonal differences are resolved, and a sense of cohesion and unity emerges
  • Team performance increases as members learn to cooperate and focus on team goals
• Performing stage

  • Consensus and cooperation are well-established
  • The team is mature, organized, and well-functioning
  • Clear and stable structure with members committed to the team's mission
  • Problems and conflicts are dealt with constructively
  • Team focuses on problem solving and meeting goals
• Adjourning stage

  • Most team goals have been accomplished
  • Emphasis on wrapping up final tasks and documenting effort and results
  • Individual members may be reassigned to other teams as the team disbands
  • Ceremonial acknowledgement of the team's work and success can be helpful