Common Phases of Team Development

1. Common Phases of Team Development Forming - Storming - Norming - Performing Bruce Tuckman, 1965

2. Forming • This phase occurs when a team first comes together, or when membership changes. • Sometimes this phase is called the "honeymoon" period because everyone is so nice to each other. • Group members are learning how each of them works and are trying to figure out who will play what role in the team.

3. Storming • During this phase, team members begin challenging and disagreeing with one another. • They often jockey for position and use their expertise as weapons. • Teams can get stuck in this phase and then fail. • They key to moving quickly through this phase is explicitly defining the roles and responsibilities of each team member.

4. Norming • In this phase, team members start offering ideas and suggestions, sometimes using humor to get their points across. • They reveal their preferences for performing tasks. • Standards of behavior (formal and informal) and team processes are defined.

5. Performing • This phase is the ideal phase for a team. • They work hard and play hard together, using humor to help ease tensions. • Team members anticipate problems, changes in direction and each other's moves. • The focus of the team is on accomplishing their goals and not on blaming each other.

6. Making Progress • Your team can minimize the storming phase by • clarifying the team's mission • defining goals and milestones • establishing roles and responsibilities • creating processes for getting the work done

7. Forming-Storming-Ignoring-Pretending • Forming • Storming • Ignoring • Fails to resolve the conflicts • Pretending • Follows the requirements with little hope of project success