Managing team development can be a challenge. Many of us will have to manage a team at some point in our lives. When that time comes it might help you to know that all teams go through a series of sequential stages as they grow towards sustained levels of high performance and synergy.
Psychologist Bruce Tuckman proposed that all teams go through 4 stages of team development in his article “Developmental Sequence in Small Groups.”
4 Stages of Team Development
1) Forming Stage: The first stage a team will enter in its development is the forming stage. This is the stage where the team is established.
2) Storming Stage: Next, the team begins to work through different ideas, frustrations, and disharmony. This development stage is the storming stage.
3) Norming Stage: Following this development stage the team begins developing rules and expectations in the norming stage.
4) Performing Stage: Finally, your team will development in to the performing stage where they are now acting as a high performing team.
When managing your team, remember that it can take some time for your group to develop trust. Knowing how to identify and work through these stages will help you better manage your teams through the team development process.
What do you think about this? Have you ever had to lead a team through these stages? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below.
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More Resources on Team Development
- Tuckman’s Stages of Team Development on Wikipedia
- Forming, Storming, Norming and Performing article by Mind Tools
- Stages of Team Development and Human Resources
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