 |
Organization Development | Stages of Team Development |
| When a group of people are first formed into
a team, their roles and interactions are not established. Some individuals
may merely act as observers while they try to determine what is expected
from them while others may engage the process immediately. There are many
models that describe team developmental progression. They are similar and
suggest that the process occurs in four predictable stages. Each stage is
characteristically different and builds on the preceding one. The
implication is that all teams must develop through this predetermined
sequence if they are to be fully functioning teams.
Four Stages of Team Development Stage 1: Forming Stage 2: Storming Stage 3: Norming Stage 4: Performing Stage 1: Forming The Forming stage of team development is an exploration period. Team members are often cautious and guarded in their interactions not really knowing What to expect from other team members.
Some questions raised during this stage of development are:
Stage 2: Storming The Storming stage of development is characterized by competition and strained relationships among team members. There are various degrees of conflict that teams experience but basically the Storming stage deals with issues of power, leadership, and decision making.
Some questions raised during this stage of development are:
Stage 3: Norming The Norming stage of team development is characterized by cohesiveness among team members. After working through the storming stage, team members discover that they in fact do have common interests with each other.
Some questions raised during this stage of development are:
Stage 4: Performing The Performing stage of team development is the result of working through the first three stages. By this time, team members have learned how to work together as a fully functioning team-
From The ASTD Trainer’s Sourcebook: Teambuilding, by Cresencio Torres and Deborah Fairbanks. McGraw-Hill, 1996. Used with permission. |