Gist

Every team relationship between two or more individuals goes through these stages:

Forming

• Team Relationship is made, teams are formed
• People learn about each other
• Strengths and Weaknesses are understood
• Usually, individuals want to get along, and therefore, there are no dramas
• Productivity increases slowly, but improves over time

Storming

• Turbulent period and quite stressful
• Patience runs out
• Individuals start challenging each other
• Some relationships are ended, people get fired
• Productivity sometimes halts or reverses

Norming

• Relationships normalise
• Individuals start acting as a team
• Risky times, as individuals fall into routines
• Productivity improves again

Performing

• The holy grail of teams productivity
• Teams members are able to anticipate each other
• Productivity is highest

Take aways

• Be patient and steady during the Storming phase
• During the Norming phase, there is a big risk to revert back to Storming or even to Forming if new people need to join the team
• Not guaranteed teams will ever reach the Performing phase
• To get to the Performing level teams must apply a deliberate effort and hold a coherent dream