The Forming stage is just the beginning; the staff is together, but trust and cooperation have not yet developed. The staff will look for clarification of how the group, and management operates.
As the staff grows more confident, they enter the Storming phase which is characterized by open discussions of differences. Conflict comes out in the open, and staff begins to learn how to understand one another and resolve conflict.
As the staff learns to deal honestly and appropriately with one another, they enter the Norming phase. During this phase, they begin to reconcile their own opinions with the greater needs of the agency. Co-operation and collaboration replace the conflict of the previous phase.
Ultimately the team reaches the final phase, Performing. The emphasis is now on reaching team goals, rather than just working on processes. The team is able to manage more complex tasks, and cope with greater change.
Do you know which stage your staff is in? And, more importantly, are you learning how to help them become a High Performance team?
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