Cmst (19/02)
Phases of Team Development
CMST 340 Advanced Communication in Business & Technology
According to Tuckman and Fisher
Teams go through natural phases of development
Movement through these phases can be fast or slow
Movement is not always sequential
Phases of Team Development
Forming
Storming
Norming
Performing
Adjourning
Forming
Characteristics
First impressions
Exploration
Politeness
Awkwardness/Anxiety
Cautiousness
Guarded behavior
Confusion
Suggestions
Get to know each other
Establish norms for success (see “Norms That Help Make a Group a Team”)
Establish rules
Maintain open channels of communication
Communicate personal needs
Agree on team’s purpose
Strive for shared leadership
Storming
Characteristics
Conflict
Competition
Person agendas
Strained relationships
Polarization
Anger
Frustration
Disengagement
Suggestions
Express differences
Deal with/face problems
Be assertive
Use dialogue
Use active listening
Deal with conflict constructively
Move from a testing and proving mentality to a problem-solving mentality
Beware…
Failure to storm (engage in conflict) is a symptom of groupthink (the lack of critical thinking).
Remember….
There are benefits to engaging in constructive conflict:
Helps motivate a group
Fosters critical thinking and creativity
Increases group cohesiveness
Norming
Characteristics
Trust
Harmony
Shared vision
Cohesiveness
Commitment
Suggestions
Communicate openly and often
Strive for decision by consensus
Use teambuilding exercises
Decide how to rotate/share roles
Solicit and give feedback
Performing
Characteristics
Ability to manage conflicts constructively
Diagnose situations
Solve problems
Productive as a group
High morale
Sense of group loyalty
Suggestions
Use participative/ shared leadership
Gain feedback on team effectiveness (assessments)
Work collaboratively
Adjourning
Take time to celebrate your accomplishments
Seek closure
Remember that you may have to work with the same people again
End on a positive note