This is an orientation stage, on both an interpersonal and professional level, where preliminary boundaries and expectations are established. A team forming activity is also a good idea to help build trust and get to know the various strengths and weaknesses of the team members. The forming stage, when everyone is getting to know each other and are trying to make a good impression, is a good time to create a set of shared expectations, guidelines, or a Team Charter. Note that at each stage, communication is a critical component of successfully moving to the next stage. text for a more complete discussion.įigure 4.2.1 The Stages of the Tuckman Model. Some teams can also stall in a stage and never fully realize their potential. According to McCahan et al., the stages move from organizing to producing, and although the stages appear linear, in fact teams may move backwards to previous stages, depending on events that may influence the team and the communications strategies that they use. It describes four stages that teams may progress through: forming, storming, norming, and performing (a 5th stage was added later: adjourning). “Tuckman’s Stages of Group Development,” proposed by psychologist Bruce Tuckman in 1965, is one of the most famous theories of team development. This section reviews a variety models often applied in workplaces that can help a team perform optimally and manage crises effectively.
Consider using a mixture of shared Google Docs, project management and automated update tools to keep your team on the same page.4.2 Five Models for Understanding Team DynamicsĪn important aspect of effective teamwork entails understanding group dynamics in terms of both team situation and individual temperament. When you write down important details about your plans and progress, it becomes much easier to stay aligned, accountable and transparent. Write down the detailsįinally, get it in writing. Despite coming to customer service because you had an issue with the company’s product, their excellent customer service could leave you feeling even better than you did before you had to contact support. It also prevents a simmering issue from getting worse.Ĭonflict in a group is similar to a customer service experience that provides great support. Never shy away from conflictĬonflict can be uncomfortable, and at first glance you may think “how could a team that often has conflict have a great team dynamic?” Conflict is a healthy part of a strong group, and getting issues out in the open helps everyone trust each other more. This frequent communication helps them detect issues early and implement a fix quickly, before something escalates. They share what is going on and discuss problems. How can you get these 3 ingredients for your group and improve your group dynamics in the workplace? Try these tactics: Examples of Group Dynamics 1. This trust and mutual understanding also helps contribute to effective group dynamics. Building a culture of accountability ensures that everyone will be held to a high standard. This should be shared in weekly team meetings and written status updates.Ī team builds a great dynamic when they trust each other to deliver. In order to fix these issues, it’s critical that the team is transparent on the progress being made and issues encountered. Unforeseen problems will need to be addressed. You can create alignment by writing down plans, getting early buy-in from the leaders who will be implementing the plans, and communicating regular progress.Īs a team works together, inevitably issues will arise. This eases tension to help create a strong team dynamic. Alignment ensures there is no ambiguity, and everyone can march in the same direction. When each person understands what direction the team is going and why, they are aligned. The recipe comes down to 3 “ingredients”:
It’s not easy to build effective groups at work, and it’s a skill that many leaders often practice to improve. When we get the “working together” part right, it makes it far easier to accomplish results that are high quality. how often the group gets stuck, how people help each other, etc). how much is accomplished and quality) and the ease with which the groups works together (i.e. It’s both the efficiency of how productive the group is (i.e. Group dynamics are a measure of the way a set of people operate together.
This is not an accident: great leaders put tremendous effort into assembling groups that have a strong group dynamics. Have you ever work in a group where it felt like everyone just “clicked”? There wasn’t any simmering tension, and it felt like each person’s strengths perfectly overlapped others’ weaknesses.