Building a Strong Team: The Stages of Team Development

What is Team Development?

A team is a group of individuals who work together toward a common goal. Each member of a team is valuable to the common goal in their own way, using a unique set of skills to fulfill a team role. And yet, everyone on the team shares the same orientation and attitude. Though this may sound easy on paper, balancing individual and common goals within a team is quite difficult, especially during periods of stress, failure, or discord.

Characteristics of a successful team include:

• Mission: Everyone on the team has a clear understanding of what the collective goal is.
• Commitment: Everyone on the team invests their time, energy, and attention into the collective goal.
• The 3 R’s: Everyone on the team understands the RULES, ROLES, and RESPONSIBILITIES of the team dynamic.
• Process: The mechanics of intergroup communication, decision-making, and accountability are agreed upon and managed effectively.

Almost all teams lack one or more of these criteria at some point in their tenure. Team development strives to meet these criteria with ongoing reflection and growth. Like any form of development, it takes time and dedication to be effective. In other words, a team doesn’t develop from start to finish overnight. Regardless of the tools used for team development, the process must be maintained through long-term awareness. 

Why is Team Development Important?

Maintaining an effective team is much like maintaining a garden; if left unattended, it loses its ability to thrive. Team development ensures that the team can thrive in the long term. 

Engaging team development benefits the team in a number of ways. Individual members of a team learn more about their personal potential, duties, and work dynamically within the team. Conversely, team development acquaints each member with the talents and roles of other members. This combination of internal and external reflection strengthens communication, productivity, and well-being within the team.

What are the 5 Stages of Team Development?

The Five Stages of Team Development were developed by psychologist Bruce Tuckman in 1965. These five stages advance as a team works together, but especially when a team brings awareness to their dynamic. 

Tuckman’s Five Stages of Team Development are as follows:

1. Forming

During the “forming” stage of team development, the team members acquaint themselves with the basic aspects of their task. Forming stage discussion topics often include the project goal, team member roles, basic ground rules, and designation of authority. The forming stage is truly a honeymoon phase in teamwork—productivity is low, but the team members are too newly acquainted to encounter conflict.

2. Storming

Of course, every honeymoon phase ends eventually. As the real work kicks in, the project may present both technical and interpersonal challenges. Individual work habits, leadership decisions, or lapses in communication can cause tension within a team. Annoyance, frustration, and anxiety commonly arise in response. This stage of team development is known as storming.

Storming is the most difficult and unproductive of the five stages of development, but it is nevertheless vital to the team development process. When team members are upset with themselves, the task, or each other, they learn what causes the most dysfunction. With this information, the team can begin aspiring to a better team dynamic. 

3. Norming

The norming stage of team development is the calm after the storm. In this stage of team development, team members fall into a rhythm as a cohesive taskforce. The skills of each member are validated and utilized to execute the necessary tasks. While conflict may still arise in this stage, it no longer spirals into dysfunction. The team can handle conflict and proceed with the project successfully.

4. Performing

Some teams reach a stage of development in which they thrive at their individual and collective tasks. The skills of each member are fully optimized, supervision is almost never needed, and members feel a strong sense of trust in one another. This stage of team development is called performing. 

Reaching the performing stage is a major success and often precipitates some form of team learning. Team learning is a behavioral process of seeking, gathering, discussing, and implementing methods of team success. Whether through training, group initiative, or innovative leadership, team learning is an action step that ensures healthy team development. 

5. Adjourning

The fifth stage of group development is adjourning. Adjourning varies broadly from team to team. Some teams adjourn with silence, some with celebration, and others with sadness. Regardless of the length or success of a project, each team deserves a hearty affirmation of its concerted efforts. The adjourning phase is a fantastic opportunity for leaders to encourage long-term connections, reflect on the growth of the team, and celebrate the project closing.

Why are 5 Stages of Team Development Essential?

The 5 stages of team development are important because they provide a framework for understanding and managing team dynamics. These stages help:

1. Identify and Address Challenges: Understanding the stages can help leaders anticipate and address challenges that teams may face, such as conflicts, miscommunication, and resistance to change.
2. Improve Team Performance: By recognizing where a team is in the development process, leaders can tailor their management style to match the team’s needs, fostering a more productive and effective team.
3. Enhance Team Cohesion: The stages help teams develop a shared sense of identity and purpose, leading to better collaboration and communication among team members.
4. Encourage Growth and Development: By acknowledging a team's progress, leaders can encourage and support further growth and development, ultimately leading to higher performance levels.
5. Foster Effective Transitions: The final stage, adjourning, helps teams transition smoothly to new projects and responsibilities, reducing stress and preserving positive relationships among team members.

In conclusion, the five stages of team development provide a roadmap for successful team building and management, helping leaders to build high-performing and cohesive teams that achieve their objectives.

How to Help Your Team Progress Through the Stages of Group Development?

To help your team progress through the stages of group development, consider the following steps:

1. Create a Positive Environment: Encourage open communication, provide opportunities for team building, and foster a supportive and inclusive atmosphere to help the team move through the forming stage.
2. Manage Conflicts: Conflicts are a natural part of the storming stage. Help team members resolve conflicts by mediating disagreements and facilitating open discussions.
3. Clarify Roles and Responsibilities: Ensure each team member understands their role and how their work contributes to the team’s success. This will help the team move through the norming stage.
4. Encourage Collaboration: Encourage team members to collaborate and share their skills and expertise to enhance the team’s performance and reach its goals.
5. Celebrate Achievements: Acknowledge and celebrate the team’s accomplishments and progress, recognizing the efforts of individual team members and promoting a positive team culture.
6. Plan for Adjourning: Prepare for the end of the team’s life cycle by discussing the team’s future and preserving positive relationships among team members.

By taking these steps, leaders can help their teams progress through the stages of group development and achieve their goals. It’s important to remember that not all teams will linearly go through these stages, and it’s okay for teams to revisit earlier stages as needed. The key is to remain flexible and adaptive in your approach to team management, always keeping the team’s needs and objectives in mind.

How Can Leaders Initiate Team Development?

Team learning is often necessary to execute healthy team development and providing your team with the tools they need to thrive is good for them and your organization. These tools may include team development discussions, training, or workshops. 

Simplilearn is a cutting-edge workplace training service that provides just that. At Simplilearn, our PMP Certification Training Course in emerging technologies is transforming our economy with valuable skills that last. Our blended learning approach drives learner engagement and the industry’s highest completion rates.

Our consultants will work with you to design the best training program for your company. Unlock your team’s potential today!