8 Team Stages
Learning Objectives
- Develop an understanding of the broad stages a team can go through.
- To be aware of some challenges you may face in each stage and start to think of some solutions to these challenges.
Introduction:
When you first form a team there will always be a period while you are getting to know one another and learning how to work together. Settling into your team and learning how to work with different members of your team can be tricky.
Bruce Tuckmans’s Team Development Model shown below will help you understand the different stages of team development, and some of the challenges you may face in each stage. Even if you think that your team is working well, this model can be useful in understanding what characterises success in each stage and the skills your team can learn along the way and benefit from.
It is important to understand that working cohesively as a team requires time and input from every team member, and rarely happens straight away. Work through this section and the activities in the next chapter to develop some solutions and strategies for if your teamwork becomes challenging.
Interactive Activity: Stages of Team Formation
The stages were developed by an educational psychologist Bruce Tuckman and their definitions and examples are informed by John/Lynn Bruton and Lumen Learning (n.d.). Work through this activity to learn about each of the stages.
Copyright note: Created by Teagan Menhenett, © Deakin University 2024, licensed under CC-BY-NC, and is a derivative of Stages of Team Development, by John/Lynn Bruton and Lumen Learning, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Activity Text Version
Interactive Activity: Stages of Team Formation
This activity invites participants to click along a graph. The graph is labelled ‘team effectiveness’ on the y axis, and ‘time’ on the x axis. As you move through the five stages of teamwork there is an initial drop in effectiveness during the ‘storming’ stage, before increasing as the team moves through the ‘norming’ stage. Team effectiveness reaches the highest point in the ‘performing’ stage before it drops slightly into the ‘adjourning’ stage. Students are invited to click along each stage to learn more about them. The stages are as follow:
Forming:
In this stage the team is getting to know each other. At this stage of the team project, you may be wondering what you need to do for the project and whether you will fit in with your team members. You may be feeling anxious, exited or indifferent about the task ahead.
It is important for everyone to be heard, particularly at your first meeting. This means it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure each person has the opportunity to speak. This may also mean considering alternate methods of communication such writing out information or emailing it to the group. More information on communication can be found in the ‘Communication’ chapter.
Storming:
This is the most challenging phase for teams. Often there is conflict and competition. The overall cohesiveness of the group may decrease as disagreements may occur over team goals or tasks. This can cause frustration, unease and even anger in team members.
The next chapter of this resource looks at some of the different challenges you can experience in a team, as well as some possible solutions. Working through these activities will be very helpful for you in this stage.
Norming:
The conflicts have largely resolved by this stage and a sense of unity becomes apparent. There is consensus and clarity over everyone’s roles, and everyone generally feels comfortable to share their thoughts with the group.
Performing:
In this stage, the group can effectively deal with problems and is generally working cohesively and cooperatively. The project is likely almost ready to submit or be presented and the team is able to generate one last push in order to finish.
Adjourning:
This is the final stage of the team project, and the main assignment is either already completed, or almost completed. At this point, it is a great idea to celebrate your success. Even if the project didn’t turn out how you wanted, celebrate what you have achieved and reflect on what you could do differently next time.
Work through the ‘As the Project is Finishing’ chapter which has some questions and activities to guide reflection. You will also be completing self and peer assessments which will help you to develop critical reflection skills, helping you to improve your abilities and skills for future projects.
End of Activity Text Version
Key Takeaways
- Teams rarely experience no conflict or challenges. Being aware of the various stages your team might move through can help you to consider these challenges before they occur and allow you to reflect on them.
