Tuckman Team Development Stages

Summary

The meeting covered Bruce Tuckman's five stages of team development: Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning.
Each stage was described, with guidance for leaders on how to support teams through each phase.
Emphasis was placed on the importance of progressing through each stage, particularly Storming, for effective team performance.
The discussion included practical tips for managers and teams on recognizing and moving through the stages.

Team members come together and begin to understand their purpose and each other.
Members are tentative and polite, seeking to answer "Why am I here?" and "Who are you?"
Leaders should clarify vision and success criteria, and facilitate introductions.

The team experiences conflict or "wrestles" over roles, goals, and approaches.
Individuals assert themselves, and disagreements may be frequent.
Leaders play a key role in clarifying goals, plans, and methods, and facilitating alignment.

Team members settle into their roles and workflows as the initial conflict subsides.
The focus is on coordination: who does what, when, and where.
Leaders should look for barriers to higher performance and offer support and encouragement.

High trust and collaboration develop; the team’s output increases significantly.
The team operates effectively and can creatively solve problems.
Leaders are advised to maintain psychological safety and encourage reflection with stop/continue/start questions.

The team disbands or undergoes a transition as projects end or members leave.
This stage can involve celebration and/or feelings of loss.
Leaders support the team through transitions and help members move to new challenges.

No formal decisions were made — The session was focused on knowledge sharing and understanding of the Tuckman model.