Team Performance

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Team Development Stages

Teams typically progress through several developmental stages before reaching the point where task performance occurs--the performing stage. The stages that can be expected in team development are given in the following table.

STAGE	BEHAVIOR
Forming	Team members feel dependent on the team leader for direction. Team members “test the waters” to get to know one another. Some anxiety and uncertainty will occur about how the team will work together and how the team should approach the problem.
Storming	Healthy group conflict and debate should occur during this stage. Team members struggle with the team task as well as the roles each member will play on the team. Openness and willingness to share ideas and hear from all team members is important. Some teams get stuck in this stage and it destroys the team.
Norming	Team member should feel secure about their roles and during this stage the team focuses on distributing the workload. Team norms (rules) develop and communication continues to be important.
Performing	The team is task focused. The leader often coordinates the team’s activities. It is important that team members communicate their progress on the task to other team members. Sharing of resources and knowledge helps the team.

From icase.edu as adapted from Wheelan 1994, Group Processes: A Developmental Perspective, Boston: Allyn & Bacon, based on Tuckman, B.W. & Jensen, M.C. (1977), “Stages of small-group development revisited.”