Best Practices

Team formation

Forming, storming, norming and performing are the four key stages in team formation. Forming: This is a short lived period when the team initially gets together. The members get to know each other and why the team has been formed. The team leader is strongly in control at this point.
July 23, 2012

Forming, storming, norming and performing are the four key stages in team formation.

Forming: This is a short lived period when the team initially gets together. The members get to know each other and why the team has been formed.  The team leader is strongly in control at this point.

Storming: At this stage team members frustration will surface, perhaps wanting to get on with the work or not wanting to be on the team or not agreeing with the direction it is taking. Others may be excited about the team and be hard to focus. The leaders role is challenged at this stage. This can often be the end of the team before it really gets started.

Norming: At this stage the members know each other and roles have been established and the aims of the team determined and work is underway.

Performing: Progress is being made toward the goal, the team is supporting each other and the leader is delegating work easily.

It is worth remembering these stages when you bring a team together so that when you are frustrated about its members or progress you can consider what stage it is in and facilitate it toward the next.

About the Author

Denis Leonard

Denis Leonard has a degree in construction engineering an M.B.A. and a Ph.D. in quality management. Denis is a Fellow of the American Society for Quality, a Certified Quality Manager, Auditor and Six Sigma Black Belt. He has been an Examiner for the Baldrige National Quality Award Board of Examiners a Judge on the International Team Excellence Competition and a Lead Judge on the National Housing Quality Award. A former Professor of Quality at the University of Wisconsin, he has experience as a quality manager in the homebuilding industry as well as construction engineer, site manager and in training, auditing and consulting with expertise in strategic and operational quality improvement initiatives. His work has achieved national quality, environmental and safety management awards for clients.

Denis is co-author of 'The Executive Guide to Understanding and Implementing the Baldrige Criteria: Improve Revenue and Create Organizational Excellence'.

http://www.BusinessExcellenceConsulting.net

[email protected]

Full listing of blogs https://www.probuilder.com/author/denis-leonard

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