How to Recognize the Different Phases of Team Growth
Most experts in team development agree that all teams must go through five different phases. Time and effort required to move through the various phases will depend upon the team members, their individual skills, the work they are expected to do and the style of leadership needed both above and within the team.
- Difficulty:
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Instructions
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The beginning phase is when the team is formed and members will begin meeting as a group. The members learn what the team opportunities and challenge will be. Individual members may be confused about their role or not understand the need for the team during this phase. Members should agree on goals and begin to assign actions for work. Members may still work independently for awhile. Ground rules or team guidelines get established and agreed to by the team. At the start, the team leader may be a member of the group, a supervisor, a manager or a consultant who will facilitate the team-building process. Good leadership will help the team to define their processes. At this phase, the leader needs to be directive and understand the requirements for team training to help move the team through each stage.
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During the second phase, individual expression of ideas occurs and there is often open conflict between members. Members will tend to focus on details rather than issues and will compete with each other to influence the team results. Low trust among team members is an indicator of this stage. The team needs to select their desired leadership style and decision methodology. The team leader can help by stressing tolerance and patience between members to overcome conflicts. The leader should guide the team process toward clear goals, defined roles, acceptable team behavior and develop a feedback process for team communication.
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In the third phase, the team develops work habits that support group rules and values. They use established tools and methods; exhibit good behaviors; mutual trust, motivation, and open communication increases. Both positive teamwork and group focus are apparent to anyone working with the team. The team relationships will continue to grow and individual characteristics are better understood and utilized. The team leader role is to encourage participation and professionalism among the team members.
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The fourth phase shows high levels of loyalty, participation, motivation and group decision making within the team. Knowledge sharing, cross training and interdependence increases among the membership. The team becomes self directing in development of plans and strategy to meet their goals and carry out work. Personal growth and sharing is highly encouraged both inside and outside the team. At this phase, the leader moves to a facilitator role by advising the team in communication processes and helping them overcome obstacles if they revert to a prior phase.
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For project teams, temporary committees or task forces coming to an end, there will be a finalizing stage as they celebrate and recognize group achievement. Followed by a short period of sadness over the dissolving of the team relationship and excitement for new efforts and challenges that come with changes in individual work assignments. For continuing work teams, there may be a higher performance level as they develop and transform as individuals and reform into a revised team. It is important to note that continuous work teams may revert to prior phase when new people are added to the team. During this phase, leadership needs to emphasize the organization's gratitude to both the team and individual members during a recognition ceremony. Supporting individual growth and establishing new team member assignments is also something leaders may need to help continuing teams with.
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Tips & Warnings
To further aid understanding of the phases, it may be helpful to research the terms coined by team building experts. Bruce Tuckman used "forming," "storming," "norming," "performing" and "adjourning and transforming" as descriptions for the five phases. Thomas Quick called the five phases by other names: "searching," "defining," "identifying," "processing" and "assimilating and reforming."
