Bruce Tuckman first developed his stages of team development model is 1965 and updated it in conjunction with Mary Ann Jensen in 1977. The principles laid out in this model still hold true today and cane be applied to both functional teams and project teams.
Forming :
This stage is when a team first comes together. Team members are unsure about what is expected of them and what is expected of their collegues or, indeed what their collegues are capable of. People are generally eager to avoid conflict at this stage and so tend to what is asked of them by the team leader. The team will require clear direction from you at this stage.
Storming :
This is often seen as a negative stage of a team's development but it is actually an important stage. As a team starts to work together, tension arise. Team members jostle for position within the team, particularly in relation to roles and responsibilities. There will generally be a lack of trust among team members and certain alliances might be formed, especially if some team members have worked together previously.
Your role at this stage is to facilitate the tension, conflicts and working practices within the team to ensure that team members are both comfortable with their own contribution to the team and respectful of their colleagues contributions and capabilities.
Norming :
This is as far as most teams get to. Norms are established and people are comfortable with their own contribution to the team and that of their colleagues. Roles and responsibilites are clear and people are generally competent in their own roles. Team performance is likely to be good and there will normally be a pleasant working environment. It might be that your team does not progress beyond this stage, particularly if there is any staff turnover because as the team dynamic changes the team will then revert back to storming or froming.
Project Teams are unlikely to progress beyond this stage as they are normally focused on getting the job done rather than development which is a key requirement to take the team to the final stage. Longer -term projects some times provide an exception. If your team stays together you have an opportunity to take them to the next level.
Performing :
When a team reaches this level they are producing excellent results and capable of delivering exceptional outcomes. It is quite are rare situation and yet this should be your goal when striving to become a brilliant leader. Team members are not only competent in their own roles but they have also developed some awareness of each other's role via cross training and ongoing knowledge sharing. There is a high level of trust and loyalty among team members. Your challenge when the team gets to this stage is to maintain motivation and high performance levels by stretching them, encouraging them to innovate and continuously improve existing processes.
Reforming :
Great things must always come to an end. For various reasons teams will eventually change. This could be through staff turnover, promotion of high performing team members or new joining team because of growth. This change of team dynamic will disruption the team will need to revert back to either the forming of storming stage before it can move forward again.
Tip : When you have high performing team your team members will be in demand. Don't hold them back. It is better to create career opportunities for them in your own organization rather then losing them altogether. If you are seen as a leader who runs high performance teams and helps people develop their careers there will be no shortage of people wanting to join your team and no shortage of career opportunities.
When a team reaches this level they are producing excellent results and capable of delivering exceptional outcomes. It is quite are rare situation and yet this should be your goal when striving to become a brilliant leader. Team members are not only competent in their own roles but they have also developed some awareness of each other's role via cross training and ongoing knowledge sharing. There is a high level of trust and loyalty among team members. Your challenge when the team gets to this stage is to maintain motivation and high performance levels by stretching them, encouraging them to innovate and continuously improve existing processes.
Reforming :
Great things must always come to an end. For various reasons teams will eventually change. This could be through staff turnover, promotion of high performing team members or new joining team because of growth. This change of team dynamic will disruption the team will need to revert back to either the forming of storming stage before it can move forward again.
Tip : When you have high performing team your team members will be in demand. Don't hold them back. It is better to create career opportunities for them in your own organization rather then losing them altogether. If you are seen as a leader who runs high performance teams and helps people develop their careers there will be no shortage of people wanting to join your team and no shortage of career opportunities.
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