Describe in your own words the growth stages of a team. Give at least two examples from your own team development experiences. Have you been a part of a team that developed to a certain point and stalled? A team that progressed quickly to a productive, performing team? A team that experienced prolonged rocky periods but ultimately made it to the performing stage? If possible, note factors that led to the success and failure of these teams.

Short Answer

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Short Answer: The stages of team development are forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. In my experience, a stalled team in the storming stage lacked clear norms and decision-making processes, leading to low productivity and project failure. Conversely, a performing team had effective leadership, open communication, and efficient collaboration, resulting in a successfully completed project. Understanding these stages helps leaders manage challenges, promote cohesion, and improve team performance.

Step by step solution

01

Introduction to Team Development Stages

Team development stages are the phases a team goes through as it evolves from a group of individuals to a cohesive, high-performing unit. Understanding these stages can help team members and leaders navigate challenges and foster a productive, collaborative environment.
02

Identify the stages of team development

According to the well-known Tuckman's Model, the stages of team development are: 1. Forming: The team comes together, and individuals try to understand their roles and how they fit in the team. 2. Storming: Conflicts arise as team members establish their positions and assert their ideas. 3. Norming: The team develops a sense of unity and establishes norms for working together. 4. Performing: The team is highly productive, and members work efficiently towards achieving their objectives. 5. Adjourning: The team disbands or transitions to a new task, reflecting on their achievements and experiences.
03

Provide a personal example of a stalled team

In one of my past experiences, I was part of a team that was assigned a project with a tight deadline. Although we started with enthusiasm, the team became stuck in the storming stage, which led to missed deadlines and low productivity. The main issue was that we spent too much time debating over the best course of action, which prevented progress. The team failed to establish clear norms and processes for decision-making, leading to stalled development and ultimate project failure.
04

Provide a personal example of a productive, performing team

During another project, I was part of a team that quickly progressed to a performing stage. The team experienced a brief storming period, but our leader was skilled at promoting open communication and conflict resolution. As a result, the team developed trust and clear norms, leading to efficient collaboration and high productivity. We successfully completed the project while maintaining a positive team atmosphere.
05

Identify factors that led to success and failure in the examples

In the stalled team example, the primary factor contributing to failure was the lack of clear norms and processes for decision-making. The team's inability to move past the storming stage hindered productivity and led to missed deadlines. In contrast, the performing team's success was due to effective leadership, promoting open communication and conflict resolution. This allowed the team to quickly overcome challenges and reach the performing stage, resulting in a successful project completion.
06

Reflect on the importance of understanding team development stages

Recognizing and understanding the stages of team development can help individuals and leaders predict and manage challenges that may arise during the team's growth. Being aware of these stages enables proactive measures to promote a cohesive and productive team environment, ultimately leading to better team performance and project outcomes.

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