Managing through the team development cycle

- A group of strangers don't come together…and work well as a team the instant they meet.…Teams develop in cycles.…As a manager, it's important to understand…where your team is in the developmental cycle…so you can guide them most effectively.…The five stages developed by Tuckman and Jensen…are forming, storming, norming, performing and adjourning.…Let's start with forming.…This is the introductory phase.…Team members are getting to know each other and the project…or assignment they'll be engaging in together.…

They're essentially feeling each other out so to speak.…People are typically on their best behavior…during the forming stage.…They're polite and interested in getting to know each other.…During this phase, the goals and expectations…need to be developed and shared with the team.…As the manager, your role is…to make sure everyone understands the parameters…of the work you'll share and how it'll be evaluated.…It's a good idea to create a team charter…or an agreement that outlines how you'll communicate…within your team, manage conflict, make decisions…