Stage of Group Development Report

It’s likely your team has recently come together, and the newness can be either exciting or anxiety-inducing. When a team is at this stage, there’s a good deal of new information thrown into the mix, so it’s completely understandable if members are less than comfortable.

You’re likely to see the following in the Forming stage:

Mood – The likely mood among the team:

• Individuals are likely to feel nervous as they wonder how they fit into a new team dynamic.
• The team may be excited to start something new.
• The team is likely to be positive and optimistic about their mission, proposed objectives, and processes.

Behaviors – The actions members will likely take:

• There are many questions asked during the Forming stage – “What are the rules?” “What should the color of the logo be?” “What are our objectives?” “What is my role?” and so on.
• There is team bonding on a surface level, but members remain overly polite and cautious.

Events – Important events that are likely to occur during this stage:

• The orientation and onboarding process takes place.
• Members learn the mission and goal of the team.
• Expectations are established, including ground rules, timeline, and the team’s workflow.

Defining the team will be the priority during the Forming stage. As a result, expectations of achievement during this time should be kept low.

Please remember that unproductivity is normal during this stage. After all, you’re transforming from individual members into a cohesive, task-focused team – that takes a lot of effort, if you ask us!

This stage lives up to its name, so please beware of dark rumbling clouds and lightning bolts ahead. As your team eases out of the honeymoon phase of Forming, there’s likely to be some growing pains. In this stage, you’re likely to see:

Mood – The likely mood among the team:

• Members may feel disappointed as expectations developed in the Forming stage aren’t met.
• Teammates learn each other’s working styles and, in some cases, friction can arise from the differences.

Behaviors – The actions members will likely take:

• The gloves come off in this stage as teammates realize being nice may get them nowhere. Members start being less polite to each other as they try to convey their points and concerns.
• The team may come to openly disagree with the standards and expectations developed in the Forming stage, such as timelines or project concepts.

Events – Important events that are likely to occur during this stage:

• Psychometric assessments – like MindTrackers and 16Personalities – are used to help the team learn about each other’s different work styles, weaknesses, and strengths.
• The team learns the best way to solve conflicts with each other.

Even if the team seems frustrated, it’s crucial to remember that the negative emotions are normal during this stage.

The clouds have cleared from the Storming stage, and you find yourselves in the Norming stage. Together, your team has grown past the initial growing pains. Here’s what your team is likely to find during this stage:

Mood – The likely mood among the team:

• Team members now feel more comfortable expressing how they truly feel.
• Having gone through Storming, the roughest of the five stages together, teammates now feel closer to each other.
• Individuals are more open to constructive criticism than before.
• Team members give greater flexibility to their expectations for the team as a whole. This flexibility can appear in everything from broader brainstorming parameters to less disappointment when a prototype fails.
• Teammates have greater leniency toward team members’ differences and acknowledge where each other’s strengths can be used.

Behaviors – The actions members will likely take:

• There is more of an effort to resolve conflicts quickly.
• Since expectations have become more flexible, the team looks for ways to improve upon their initial standards. So questions like, “How can we do X better?” may be asked.
• There’s a transformation from a group of individuals into a united and cohesive team.

Events – Important events that are likely to occur during this stage:

• There may be a team building exercise to fully define the new understanding members have for each other.
• There is a re-evaluation of initial processes and standards.

At last, you’re at the stage of results! Productivity! Here’s what you’re likely to see in this stage:

Mood – The likely mood among the team:

• There is satisfaction as the team’s experiences align with their expectations.
• Team members feel more open to sharing personal insights, both from their careers and personal lives.
• Members begin to feel confident in their individual abilities, their teammates, and the mission of their work.

Behaviors – The actions members will likely take:

• Members will take on various roles and responsibilities to meet the team’s needs.
• Different workstyles are firmly understood, and members are placed in roles where they can thrive based on their individual strengths.

Events – Important events that are likely to occur during this stage:

• Significant progress is made toward the goal.
• Commitment to the project becomes stronger than ever and reaching the goal is a priority.
• Individual members strive to deepen knowledge and skills that are relevant to the team’s main objective.

If there are no major changes to the project and there aren’t too many members leaving or coming in, teams can stay in this stage indefinitely.

In this final stage, all sorts of feelings have the potential to rise.

Mood – The likely mood among the team:

• There is anxiousness caused by the uncertainty in their individual futures – or excitement at the possibilities.
• There can be sadness or a sense of loss.

Behaviors – The actions members will likely take:

• Focus may begin to lag as the end nears or focus may increase as the finish line appears.

Events – Important events that are likely to occur during this stage:

• The project is completed and the product or service is delivered.
• The team will review the lessons learned and what they can bring to their next project(s).
• There can be a closing celebration to acknowledge all the hard work involved.