There are four stages of team development, form, storm, norm and perform, as described below.

In the formation stage, members meet and often express their expectations, concerns or anxieties about what is about to happen. The team sets goals, identifies members’ strengths, and discusses the limits within which it will operate. In successful teams, each member will come to feel during this phase that they are becoming part of the team, and that their particular talents or skills are needed and valued. During this phase, they must answer for themselves:

Why am I participating on the team?
What will I personally gain from participating?
What do I specifically have to offer the team?

This stage is an orientation in which team members get acquainted, break the ice and “test” each other to see which behaviors are acceptable. Conflict is seldom voiced directly. Since the team is new, members may be guarded in expressing their opinions, especially those who are more nervous or subordinate.

The storm stage, which is the most difficult to get through, is characterized by conflict and disagreement as personalities emerge. Factions form, personalities clash, and very little communication occurs because no one is listening and some are still unwilling to talk openly. During this stage, the group might set unrealistic goals because it cannot reach good compromises.

At the norm stage, conflict has been resolved and harmony emerges. In this new spirit of friendliness, openness and cooperation, members begin to feel secure in expressing their views. The most significant improvement is that people start listening to each other. They determine how effective communication can be maintained even when disagreements occur, and they establish work methods that are recognized by the whole team. Team members agree on who has the power, who is the leader, and what team members’ roles are.

When a team is able to perform its work effectively and productively, it has reached the fourth stage, perform, and is a real team. Members are honest with one another and act as a cohesive unit. The team’s effectiveness, which began at a level slightly below the sum of the individuals’ and then dropped to its lowest point during the storm stage, should now be much higher than it was before the team process began. This elevated performance level is the main justification for teams.

Next topic, 9 Pitfalls of Teambuilding.

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