Imagine this: Sarah, a passionate leader, walks into the conference room eager to kick off a new team project. Her energy is contagious as she enthusiastically lays out a vision for success. However, by the end of the meeting, Sarah notices something unsettling—her team seems divided. A few are energized, some are uncertain, and others appear frustrated. Despite her best efforts, Sarah feels like her message didn’t fully land, and the team seems to be on different wavelengths.

What Sarah is experiencing is not unusual. It’s a common challenge many leaders face when their teams are moving through the stages of development. When you understand these stages—Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing—you can better anticipate your team’s needs and lead with confidence and clarity.

The Stages of Team Development and How to Lead Through Them

1. Forming: Setting the Foundation

When teams are first formed, they are often in the “Forming” stage. This is where individuals are getting to know one another, clarifying roles, and aligning expectations. As a leader, this is your time to establish trust, set clear objectives, and ensure everyone feels included. Like Sarah, your enthusiasm matters—but it’s also critical to ensure that the team feels safe and supported as they step into unfamiliar territory.
Practical Tip: Use this stage to over-communicate. Set aside time for ice-breakers or open discussions where everyone can express their concerns or ideas. Clarity on vision and objectives is key.

2. Storming: Navigating Conflict and Differences

Once the initial excitement wears off, teams often enter the “Storming” stage. This is where conflicts arise—differences in opinions, working styles, or competing priorities can cause tension. Leaders like Sarah often find this phase challenging as they may feel their leadership is being questioned. In reality, this is a normal and necessary part of team growth.
Practical Tip: During this stage, embrace the tension rather than avoiding it. Encourage open dialogue and facilitate conversations that allow team members to voice concerns while guiding them towards solutions. Your role is to help them see that conflict, when managed well, leads to growth.

3. Norming: Finding Balance and Unity

As the dust settles, the team enters the “Norming” stage. This is when they begin to establish a rhythm, trust is built, and individuals start to rely on each other. Leaders, at this stage, can start stepping back slightly, allowing the team to take more ownership of the process while still providing support when needed.
Practical Tip: Encourage collaboration and celebrate progress. Regular check-ins to ensure alignment will help keep the team on track, but also give them the space to solve problems together.

4. Performing: Reaching Peak Productivity

Finally, in the “Performing” stage, the team is firing on all cylinders. There is synergy, productivity is high, and the team feels empowered. Leaders like Sarah can now focus on strategic direction and long-term goals while trusting the team to manage the day-to-day operations effectively.
Practical Tip: Continue providing vision and support, but trust your team to execute. Recognize achievements and continuously look for ways to keep the team engaged and motivated.

Conclusion: Adapting to Your Team’s Needs

Sarah’s story reflects the journey of many leaders who, despite their best intentions, struggle when their team dynamics are in flux. By recognizing which stage your team is in, you can adapt your leadership style to meet their needs. Leading through these stages with patience, clarity, and empathy helps you create a more cohesive and high-performing team.

Ultimately, team development is not a one-size-fits-all process, but an evolving journey. Understanding these stages gives you a map to guide your team to success, even through the bumps in the road.

One of the ways PrairieFire Consulting assists organizations is by helping leaders / team working through the forming, storming, and norming phase to more quickly get to where every team wants to be: Performing. Drop us a line if you would like to discuss how we help!

Until next time,

Dan