Background on Teams

A group of people gathered to achieve a common task will not automatically work together as a team. It takes time for a team to get to the stage where they perform as a well oiled machine. Psychologist Bruce Tuckman developed a Tuckman Team Development Model which defined the stages of team formation outlining the route of development from a group of strangers through to a well established high performing team.

The stages defined by Tuckman are: Forming, Storming, Norming and Performing 

What happens

Typical behaviour

Manager action
Forming
The orientation stage

 

Dependence on the Leader

  • Group members want to be accepted and will avoid conflict
  • People are polite with one another and are trying to establish an understanding of who’s who
  • Provide direction
  • Establish objectives
  • Help team develop ground rules 
Storming
Greater clarity, goals are clearer

Conflict can arise at this stage

  • Group members are more familiar with each other
  • Individuals try to establish their role and position in the team and can express their opinions quite strongly which may result in tensions
  • Confrontations can relate to either the work the group has been established to achieve or to roles and responsibilities
  • Establish process and structure and communicate this to team members
  • Provide support
  • Deal with any conflict
  • Help members understand stages of Forming, Storming, Norming & Performing
Norming
Communication		 Co-operation
  • Team members understand each other and there is clarity around roles and responsibilities
  • Team objectives have been established
  • Team members listen to each other and are supportive. They feel part of a team
  • Team members will work together to resolve any disagreements as they arise

 

Take a step back and support team members in taking responsibility for the achievement of the team goals

Performing
The productive stage
The team has reached a mature stage

Interdependence

  • Team members have a flexible approach and work well together
  • Harmony and trust exists between team members who are both task and people focused
  • The team works well on complex tasks and set and achieve high standards
  • The environment is friendly, creative and supportive
  • Delegate as far as sensible
  • Oversee work rather than micro manage

When there are any changes to the team e.g. someone leaves or a new member joins, the team can revert to the Forming stage as the team is effectively a new team. 

There are no timeframes for each stage and some teams will never reach the performing stage.