🚀

Tuckman's Team Development Stages

Oct 6, 2025

Summary

  • The meeting provided an overview of Bruce Tuckman's five stages of team development: forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning.
  • The conversation highlighted key characteristics of each stage, the role of leadership, and how understanding these phases can help teams progress efficiently.
  • Attendees discussed practical implications for managers and teams, focusing on leadership actions at each development phase.

Action Items

  • No specific action items were discussed or assigned within the transcript.

Tuckman Team Development Model Overview

  • Teams evolve through five stages: forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning, according to research by Bruce Tuckman.
  • Forming: Team members are polite and tentative; leaders should clarify vision and encourage introductions.
  • Storming: Team members assert themselves and conflicts may arise over roles and tasks; leaders need to clarify objectives and facilitate agreements.
  • Norming: Team settles; roles and processes become clearer, and leaders should address barriers and encourage momentum.
  • Performing: Team operates efficiently with trust and creativity; leaders foster reflection, growth, and psychological safety.
  • Adjourning: Team disbands or transitions; leaders support members through closure and celebrate achievements.

Manager and Team Implications

  • Leaders play a crucial role in guiding teams through each stage, especially storming and performing.
  • Awareness of the stages enables both leaders and team members to normalize challenges, support each other, and focus on solutions rather than frustrations.
  • Regular reflection (stop, continue, start) helps prevent regression to earlier stages and drives continuous improvement.
  • The model supports internal team understanding and self-progression.

Decisions

  • No formal decisions were made — The session was purely informational.

Open Questions / Follow-Ups

  • None identified in the discussion.