Teams go through various stages as they develop.
Understanding these stages can help team members navigate challenges and improve performance.
This guide provides an overview of the stages of team development.
Background on Stages of Team Development
The stages of the team development model describe how teams progress through various phases as they learn to work together.
This model was first proposed by psychologist Bruce Tuckman in 1965. He said that teams go through forming, storming, norming, and performing.
Later he added a fifth stage called adjourning.
Knowing the stages of team development can help set appropriate expectations and deal with team challenges. When teams understand where they are in their developmental process, they can better address issues that arise.
Forming Stage
The team first comes together in the forming stage. Members are usually excited about the task and want to make a good impression.
Key features of this stage include:
- Team members are introduced to each other.
- Goals and objectives are discussed.
- Processes, guidelines, and expectations are established.
- Members are usually polite and reserved as they learn about each other.
- Leadership roles may not be clear yet.
This stage is complete once team members have begun to think of themselves as part of a team.
Storming Stage
In the storming stage, the team addresses the task, but discussions can become heated as opinions clash.
Key features include:
- Team members open up and confront each other’s ideas.
- There may be power struggles as leadership is challenged.
- Clarity on team processes and responsibilities emerges.
- Conflicts arise as members resist the authority of the leader.
- There may be concerns about the team’s goal and approach.
This stage can be challenging, but conflict can help the team’s development. It is complete when disagreements are resolved, and roles are clear.
Norming Stage
In the norming stage, the team establishes cohesive ways of working together.
Key features include:
- Agreement is reached on how the team will achieve its goal.
- Roles become flexible, and members support each other.
- Processes for communication and conflict resolution emerge.
- Work gets done smoothly and efficiently without the need for supervision.
- There is greater social bonding between team members.
This stage shows that the team is coming together as a cohesive unit.
Performing Stage
In the performing stage, the team has mastered working together and can focus on the task.
Key features include:
- Team members work collaboratively with a shared vision.
- There is a focus on achieving collective results.
- Innovation and creativity are encouraged.
- The team is flexible, interdependent, and adaptable.
- Problems and challenges are dealt with smoothly.
- Leadership is shared based on expertise.
This stage shows the team working at a high level to achieve its goal.
Summary of Benefits
Understanding the stages of team development provides many benefits, including:
- Setting appropriate expectations – Knowing the stages helps calibrate expectations, manage change, develop facilitation skills, and normalize challenges that arise.
- Improving teamwork – Identifying the current stage helps choose strategies to move to the next stage of teamwork.
- Overcoming challenges – Recognizing common stage-related issues allows the team to address problems proactively.
- Achieving high performance – Mastering the stages allows the team to achieve a high-functioning, cohesive state.
Knowing these developmental stages allows teams to build trust and creativity, resolve conflict, manage change, agree on norms, share leadership, and improve processes over time.
This facilitates collaboration and high performance.
With 30+ years of experience, Catherine Fitzgerald, B.A., M.A., PGDip, founded Oak Innovation in 1995. Catherine received her Bachelor’s degree and Master’s from University College Cork. She holds qualifications in Professional Development And Training from University College Galway. She is completing a second Master’s from University College Cork. Since 1995, clients include Apple, Time Warner, and Harvard University.
