Team Work

Stages of Teams

1. Forming/ Orientation

In this stage members of a team come together, learn about each other and develop the purpose of the group. Group members who are new to each other and can’t predict each other’s behavior can be expected to experience the stress of uncertainty.

This stage can last for some time, as people start to work together, and as they make an effort to get to know their new colleagues.

2.Storming

At this stage the team members engage in more direct communication and get t know each other. Conflicts among the group members will often arise during this stage.

Storming often starts where there is a conflict between team members' natural working styles. People may work in different ways for all sorts of reasons, but if differing working styles cause unforeseen problems, they may become frustrated.

Storming can also happen in other situations. For example, team members may challenge one’s authority, as their roles are clarified.

3. Norming

Gradually, the team moves into the norming stage where the members establish spoken or unspoken rules about how to communicate and work. Status rank and roles in the group are established.

4. Performing

The team reaches the performing stage when hard work leads, without friction, to the achievement of the team's goal. The structures and processes that you have set up support this well.

It feels easy to be part of the team at this stage, and people who join or leave won't disrupt performance.

5. Adjourning

This is the stage where members leave the team. The group may cease to exist or it may be transformed with new members and a new set of goals.

Many teams will reach this stage eventually. For example, project teams exist for only a fixed period, and even permanent teams may be disbanded through organizational restructuring.

This process is often closed with a ritual marking its passing, though the ritual may be as formal as an award or as informal as a “thank you”or a verbal acknowledgement over some delicacies.