Level up your team with the 4 phases of team building (+ tips)

Do you know what your team’s performance level is? How easy is it for you to tell? 

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Most managers wait to assess their teams at a performance or end-of-year review — an occasion that forces them to think about it. But they aren’t aware of their team’s development on a day-to-day basis. 

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Forming a great team means being aware of it constantly.

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The four phases of team building give you an instant snapshot of where your team’s at.

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Want more ideas on how to develop your team? Check out some of these:

• Team building activities for your remote team.
• Free team building activities and activities for work have more specialized options.

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What are the stages of team building?

Bruce Tuckman, a researcher of group dynamics, developed the stages of team building. These phases are a way to understand why groups behave in certain ways. 

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Everyone faces some challenges when building a team, but knowing your team’s stage can make it easier to know how to develop them further to reach the next stage. 

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These are some examples of what each stage looks like.

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1. Forming

The team forms for the first time. Team members are brought together and assigned tasks, but they work independently. They don’t trust each other but tend to avoid conflict. 

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2. Storming

The storming stage often means conflicts and disagreements arise. This is because team members start to assert themselves and their ideas. They start to know each other and understand their working styles better.

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3. Norming

When the team starts to settle, it enters the norming stage. Team members start working together towards a common goal and establish a sense of cohesion. They accept the other team members and focus on getting the job done. 

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4. Performing

At the final stage, the team performs. They work well together, they have established goals and roles, and they can manage conflicts that come up without getting distracted. They’re autonomous and motivated. 

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5. Adjourning

The adjourning stage is when the team has completed their task and disbands.

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Tips for using the phases of team building

Knowing the phases and identifying the team's current stage is only the first step. The real value of this model is in implementing it as a tool for growth.

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Try out some of these activities to help push your team to the next stage.

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1. Forming

Because the forming stage happens when the team is new and unfamiliar with each other, the focus is on facilitating communication. Focus on getting everyone on the same page and supporting them in bringing their ideas across.

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Here are some tips to help your team move forward:

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• Look for ways to improve team communication
• Break out icebreaker exercises to help the team get to know each other and build relationships
• Invest in trust-building activities
• Encourage open communication and participation

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2. Storming

Not all teams go through the storming phase. If you’re lucky and the activities above are effective, you might be able to take your team straight to norming. However, if your team skips the storming phase, that may be because of conflict avoidance instead. 

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Conflict doesn’t mean your team isn’t moving in the right direction. You want to enable your team to address points of disagreement openly. These are some ways to do that:

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• Try conflict-resolution activities 
• Encourage active listening 
• Identify and address power imbalances

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3. Norming

Getting to the norming phase is a breath of fresh air. This is when you can start seeing your team’s potential and how they’ll work together in the long run. 

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It’s a good time to:

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• Recognize and reward collective accomplishments. 
• Provide opportunities for team members to bond, such as organizing a retreat.
• Focus on developing a work culture you’re proud of. 

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4. Performing

Hitting the performing phase is fun. You’ll know when it happens because your team will drive each other to work harder and better. As a manager, you want to empower the team to handle dissent and set goals as they need to.

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Maintaining their performance over time is the biggest challenge.

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Some tips that might help are:

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• Encourage innovation, creativity, and problem-solving  
• Provide constructive feedback and coaching to help team members improve their skills
• Understand what drives employee engagement and keep your employees motivated
• Provide opportunities for growth and development 

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5. Adjourning

The adjourning stage isn’t focused on further development. It’s about solidifying the lessons and wrapping up the experience. 

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At this stage, you can:

• Provide opportunities for closure and reflection 
• Encourage team members to share their insights and lessons learned

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Remember that teams are living organisms, which respond to external factors. Change, growth, and setbacks are all part of their process. 

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Any major change in a performing team can bring it back to one of the earlier phases. Great teams get through these stages fast, but others can take months or even years. It’s part of the natural process of developing amazing teams.

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Looking for more tips? You can:

• Pick an employee engagement platform
• Understand what different engagement apps and solutions offer your team
• Keep up with the latest stats on employee engagement