Stages of Team Development

Do you believe teams go through stages, or do you think everything is just a blur? Psychologist Bruce Tuckman developed theories regarding the cycle that each group goes through during their lifespan. I will describe these stages later in this post. 

You may ask, why should team members know about the stages that they will be experiencing? My response is that it’s helpful for teams to understand their development. Once informed, each member will be aware of the normal behaviour during that stage. They will also be able to predict what each stage will be like as they experience it. This definitely benefits the team and will lead them to be more successful.

Now, let me explain the theories of group development so you too can understand.

Stage 1: Forming

• Why is the group together?
• What are the members’ roles?
• How do you interact with each other?
• Not much work gets done
• Get to know each other
• Begin to develop trust

Stage 2: Storming

• Happens once the team is clear about their purpose
• Figure out how to proceed
• Identify problems
• Share information
• Question differences
• Conflict arises, usually about power and control
• Roles are defined
• Work levels continue to be low
• Some groups never move out of this stage

Stage 3: Norming

• Competitiveness has been worked through
• Greater acceptance
• Listen to one another
• Resolve differences
• Consensus occurs
• Decision making
• Roles are clarified 

Stage 4: Performing

• Some groups never make it to this stage
• Achieve a higher level of trust  
• Power is shared
• Appreciation for one another
• Information is shared openly
• Relationships become important
• Task may get accomplished
• Routines have been established
• Reaching this stage is gratifying

Once you are familiar with these stages, you are able to identify what is happening with your team. Also, you are able to reflect, which leads to growth for future team tasks.

Below is a video that describes Tuckman’s stages:

 

Do you agree or disagree with any of these 4 stages? Have you ever made it all the way to the performing stage?


References:

Guffey, M. E. & Loewy, D. & Rhodes, K. & Rogin, P. (2015). Business Communication Process and Product. Toronto, ON: Nelson Education Ltd.

McKinlay, L. & Ross, H. (2008). You and Others. Toronto, ON: Pearson Education Canada.

Working in a Team vs. Independently

Why should you want to work in a team when you can independently complete a task to your liking?

This question actually had me thinking a lot. Personally, I enjoy working independently slightly more than in a team. I like working alone for the following reasons: 

• I am in control
• I am the one responsible for the outcome
• I can do things at my own pace

These are the reasons I enjoy working in a team:

• Ideas are shared
• We help each other understand the task
• If there is a lot of work, the load gets divided

These days, it is very important to enjoy teamwork. As a student, you have to work in a team for many assignments. I think this is great, but it can be challenging because each member usually shares the same grade. As an employee, you pretty much always have to work in a team. I am sure you can quickly identify the pros and cons of working in a team vs. independently through your own experiences.

According to my textbook, businesses form teams for the following reasons:

• Better decisions
• Faster responses
• Increased productivity
• Greater buy-in
• Less resistance to change
• Improved employee morale
• Reduced risks

Working as a team allows members to share their different perspectives instead of being limited to one idea. On the other hand, there are circumstances where individuals are introverted; therefore they do their best work outside of a team. It is important to be aware of this and find balance.

Teamwork allows members to feel a sense of support that they would not have if they were working independently. Working in a team can also cause the members to feel connected and accepted. I think this is a great notion, especially for people who are in school or starting new jobs. 

Below is a brief video that explains the benefits of teamwork:

What do you enjoy about teamwork vs. working independently?  

References:

Guffey, M. E. & Loewy, D. & Rhodes, K. & Rogin, P. (2015). Business Communication Process and Product. Toronto, ON: Nelson Education Ltd.
McKinlay, L. & Ross, H. (2008). You and Others. Toronto, ON: Pearson Education Canada.

Confronting Conflict

When you think of the term ‘conflict,’ a negative idea most likely comes to mind. However, in the area of teamwork, conflict can actually be seen as a positive. Conflict in teamwork arises when two or more team members have differing views or opinions. In this post, I will explain how to successfully confront conflict.

When a conflict arises, it is important for the team to have a discussion instead of ignoring the issue. I think this is powerful because group members will clear the air and will not hold any grudges against other team members. This will ensure that all team members will be focused on the assigned task, and not on their feelings or any other related distractions.

During the discussion, team members must remain open-minded and everyone must actively participate. When team members discuss the cause of the conflict, it creates new ways for them to look at the issue. I find this to be very helpful because the group members’ knowledge will expand, causing their future ideas to be more creative. This can lead to great heights for their current and future tasks. 

A quote by Jay Hall in my textbook reads, “conflict is a natural part of the human condition, but the manner in which you respond to and manage its dynamics will help determine the success of your enterprise” (McKinlay & Ross, 2008, p.165).

It is important that the conflicting group members are able to effectively explain themselves. This will help them justify their views and help the other group members understand where they are coming from and why they feel that way. I also believe that knowledge helps group members understand each other’s views and opinions. A lot of people have not been informed about new ideas other than the ones they learned about growing up or in school. People need to understand that everyone has experienced a different life, which causes them to have different views and opinions.

Below is a short video explaining how students feel about conflict: 

The idea of confronting conflict peacefully sounds great, but I am sure it does not sound easy. I bet it also sounds like something that you would rather avoid, if possible. All you need to do is practice and I believe you will be surprised with the results.

Have you ever experienced conflict during group work, and were you able to successfully confront the issue?

Reference:

McKinlay, L. & Ross, H. (2008). You and Others. Toronto, ON: Pearson Education Canada.

Communication Skills

You may think that your communication skills come naturally from your daily conversations with family and friends. This may be true, but I believe it is important for those communication skills to be built upon if you want to be successful as a team member. Some people may be very good at having one-on-one conversations. However, if there is a group involved, they may not know how to effectively communicate to each member individually and as a part of a team.  

The most useful concepts to remember when communicating in a group are:

• Focus
• Be open-minded
• Be encouraging
• Share your ideas
• Let others speak
• Ask questions for clarification
• Use clear, simple language
• Non-verbal signals

Everyone participates differently as a team member, which is why these points are so important. Some people are more willing to contribute to the assigned task than others. Other individuals like to be asked for their opinion because that is where their comfort level is. Non-verbal communication skills are crucial for successful teamwork. Eye contact with the speaker of the group can make them feel more comfortable. Nodding is a sign that you are listening and understanding what the group member is saying.

My former social work skills textbook states, “most people are rather poor listeners, tending to pay more attention to their own thoughts and feelings than to the messages others are trying to convey” (Cournoyer, 2011, p.191).

To successfully communicate with your team you must concentrate on what each member is saying. I believe very strongly in this idea. It can be frustrating as a group member to watch the other members daydreaming or using cell phones while you are contributing to the assigned task. Obviously these group members will not be able to participate and give a response because they were distracted.

I believe active listening is a big part of effective communication. If you do not completely understand an idea that a group member has shared, you should ask questions. Asking questions helps clarify and gives you and the rest of the group more understanding of the speakers idea.

Enhancing your communication skills is beneficial for teamwork, as well as your daily life. Do you feel that you need to work on your communication skills?

References:

Cournoyer, B. R. (2011). The Social Work Skills Workbook. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning.
Horejsi, C. R. & Sheafor, B. W. (2008). Techniques and Guidelines for Social Work Practice. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

What is a Successful Team?

When you are told that you have to work in a group, what is your first reaction?

I am here to shed some light on this subject that often has people cringing. What is successful teamwork? I believe the answer will vary depending on who you are speaking with. In my opinion, successful teamwork can be defined as a group of individuals working together to come to a mutual decision.

In more detail, I believe that group members have to equally participate and provide their opinions openly. I think one of the most important factors that determines whether a group will be successful is if all the group members treat each other as equals. This means that group members can openly share their ideas without being or feeling judged. This idea is expressed flawlessly in one of my previous textbooks:

“Groups with high levels of trust feel safe enough to communicate honestly and to share thoughts and ideas openly” (McKinlay & Ross, 2008, p. 51). 

This idea of trust and equality should be obvious, but you would be surprised how frequently they do not exist in group work. It is important that everyone in the group values each other’s opinions and does not think that their ideas are above anyone else’s. To be successful, you should remain open-minded and respectful of your group members’ viewpoints. You may be wondering how trust can be developed in a group setting. As a group member, keep in mind the following ideas:

• Risks must be taken
• Be open
• Make contributions
• Be accepting 

It is important to remember that your behaviour has a big impact on your group members. I know from experience that you can get caught up in trying to get your task done on time, which leads you to forget about how you are treating your group members. Try your best to always be thinking in the back of your mind about how your comments may be affecting your group members and their level of participation.

Successful teamwork is definitely attainable; it just takes a bit of knowledge and practice. Have you ever been a part of a successful team? 

Reference: 

McKinlay, L. & Ross, H. (2008). You and Others. Toronto, ON: Pearson Education Canada.