THEORY 44

TUCKMAN’S GROUP DEVELOPMENT SEQUENCE MODEL (CROWN AS KING)

Use this to identify the stages of development that your team pass through and amend your management style accordingly.

Bruce Tuckman first presented his Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing (FSNP) model in 1965 and, with Mary Jensen, added a fifth stage (Adjourning) in 1977. The model describes the phases which teams go through from initial formation to completion of the task.

Illustrator

HOW TO USE IT

  • Provide guidance from the moment the team starts to form. Make clear the team’s purpose, aims and objectives and what contribution you expect from each person. Negotiate and agree working ground rules and listen to any concerns that members have and address them.
  • During the storming phase be prepared to deal with any challenges to your authority or inter-team squabbles. How you deal with these will set the tone for the behaviours you can expect people to exhibit throughout the operational life of the team. Acting passively or aggressively may not be in the team’s best interest. Go for a win/win solution whenever possible.
  • As the team matures and enters the norming phase your role changes to one of supporter. By this stage the team will have developed its own ways of dealing with conflict and created enough trust between team members to accept constructive criticism without coming to blows. So, sit back and let the team resolve its own problems.
  • Once the group start performing as a cohesive team don’t be afraid to adopt a watching brief. Let the team get on with it. If you’ve trained them right they will only approach you if they need help.
  • Once the task is complete, celebrate the team’s success and acknowledge everyone’s contribution.

QUESTIONS TO ASK

  • Do I have the self-discipline to increasingly take a back seat as the team matures?
  • How will I know if I am stifling the team’s growth? What signs will I look for?
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