The model
In 1965 psychologist Bruce Tuckman, reviewing research on small groups, described four stages of group development. In 1977, with Mary Ann Jensen, he added a fifth.
| Stage | What happens in the group | What it needs from the leader |
|---|---|---|
| Forming | caution, politeness, unclear roles, dependence on the leader | clarity of purpose, structure, getting to know one another |
| Storming | tensions, disputes over roles, power and ways of working, challenging the leader | calm, handling conflict, hearing everyone |
| Norming | agreeing rules, growing trust and cohesion | agreeing norms together, delegating |
| Performing | high effectiveness, autonomy, flexible roles | support, delegation, challenges, not getting in the way |
| Adjourning | completing the task, saying goodbye | summing up, appreciation, transition |
Practical lessons
- Storming is normal. Many groups see their first conflicts as a sign of failure, but it is a stage that cannot be skipped. See conflict resolution.
- Development is not linear - a change of members, leader or task can send a team back to an earlier stage.
- The leader's style changes with the stage - from more directive at the start to delegating when performing; similar to situational leadership.
Assessment
The model is simple and very popular, though criticised for oversimplifying; other research (e.g. Connie Gersick's punctuated equilibrium model, 1988) shows that some teams change in leaps, especially halfway through their allotted time. Even so, Tuckman's model remains a useful language for talking about what is happening in a group.
In a small community group
A new sharing group or a new team of animators goes through the same stages. A small-group leader can help by making a contract at the start (purpose, rules, confidentiality), calmly leading the group through tensions, and closing the year well - with thanks and a review. “Group process” and “contract and working with goals” are modules of the Animator and Leader Toolkit course of the Akademia Przywództwa.
Sources
B. W. Tuckman, Developmental sequence in small groups, Psychological Bulletin 63 (1965) B. W. Tuckman, M. A. C. Jensen, Stages of small-group development revisited, Group & Organization Studies 2 (1977) C. J. G. Gersick, Time and transition in work teams, Academy of Management Journal 31 (1988) Akademia Przywództwa, Animator and Leader Toolkit, akademiaprzywodztwa.pl/narzedziownik