A group of people come together and are given a project to complete. Each new season sports teams get to rebuild the team. Every project and team is a little different. Regardless of the situation there are commonalities to build any team and I will unpack a few here.
In 1965 Bruce Tuckman introduced a theory of team development. In this post I will share four of the five stages and provide an idea to help you build your team in each stage.
Forming
The goal has been given to your team and you have to identify who to put on or add to your team. Think of a football draft for a minute. Each year the coaches and management evaluate player data and the needs they have for their team. Similarly, you need to do this for your team.
Consider:
• Why is this team being formed?
• What are the gaps we need to fill on the team?
• What expertise do we need and who has that?
• What strengths do people have and how could their strengths help us move the project forward faster?
• How many people do we need on the team?
When you consider these five questions, it will set you on a path to form a healthy and productive team.
Storming
I tell people all the time: “wherever there are two or more people, there will be problems.” This is the storming stage. Everyone starts excited, but tension begins as people have different opinions. Differing opinions are good as long as people learn to listen to one another.
To help you navigate this stage of team development, create an environment where respectful disagreement is welcome. As the leader listen to differing ideas and consider one important question: what is best for the project/team? This helps to put your personal interests to the side. As you lead in a manner that puts what is best for the situation and goal over who brought the idea you will be on the path to creating a healthy team.
Norming
During the previous stage you will naturally flow into a stage of creating norms. Another way to look at this is clarifying roles and responsibilities. This is the stage you are bringing clarity and as author Brene Brown says “clear is kind.”
You have stormed through what needs to happen for the team to accomplish the goal and probably identified key tasks. Pause and decide as a team what needs to be accomplished and by whom. After you determine this, take time to set expectations around deadlines and what each person needs to accomplish. During this stage you will create communication rhythms whether with formal meetings or other methods. Take time to create these norms so you can effectively perform.
Performing
Once the team has built trust and has clarity on responsibilities they are ready to execute. This is the fun part of being a team. Ideally you have worked through the first three stages like a crew team understanding their roles and sitting in the best seat based on their strengths. Now your job is to row the boat and keep consistently moving toward the goal adjusting along the way as needed.
These four stages are normal to every team big and small. The key is to move through them gaining greater clarity and unity along the way. Which stage is your team in right now? Need help building your team? Contact me to learn about tools such as the
Maxwell Leadership Game to help unify and strengthen your team. Lead Well!
© 2025 Wheeler Coaching, All Rights Reserved
