Tuckman’s Four Stages of Team Development (Unit 9 P3)

Jan 15

Unit 9: Teambuilding in Business. Resources for BTEC Business Studies

Bruce Tuckman (1938 - 2016) was an American psychologist renowned for his group dynamics research. His best-known theory is the four stages of group development.

Through his observations, Tuckman observed that teams progress through four stages from their initial formatting to the point at which they operate at peak performance. These stages are

Forming
Norming
Storming
Performing.

What role do leaders play in team development?

Although these stages have been observed to occur naturally, leaders play an important role in guiding the team through these stages. Effective leadership can shorten the time spent at each stage helping the team reach peak performance faster.

Tuckman’s Four Stages

Forming

The forming stage is the first stage of team development when the team are first brought together. This stage is usually characterised by;

Uncertainty and caution
Dependence on leadership
Low productivity
Establishing team roles and expectations

Storming

The storming stage is the second stage of team development when members become more comfortable with each other and confident in expressing their opinions. Conflicts arise during this stage, which is essential for resolving differences and establishing roles. This stage is usually characterised by;

Conflict and competition
Emergence of personalities
Challenges to leadership
Formation of subgroups

Norming

The norming stage is the third stage of team development when trust builds between the members. The team begins to develop a sense of unity and starts to function as a cohesive unit. This stage is usually characterised by;

Conflict resolution
Role clarity
Trust and commitment
Improved communication
Improved productivity

Performing

The performing stage is the fourth stage of team development when the team is operating at high levels of collaboration and productivity with minimal intervention from the leader. This is when the team is operating at peak performance. This stage is characterised by;