Bruce Tuckman's Five Stages Of Group Dynamics

Being in groups is part of everyday life and many of us will belong to a wide range of groups, for example: family groups, social groups, sports groups, committees, etc. committees, etc. When we talk about groups and teams we use the terms interchangeably – it is possible to have a group without a team but not a team without a group. There is some confusion about the difference between a group and a team; traditionally academics, communication and management theorists use the terms: group, group-working, group-interaction, group-structure etc. to refer to the dynamics of people working together towards a common cause. A group is a collection of people with some common characteristics or purpose. Groups may be formal, brought together for
Psychologist Bruce Tuckman's theory on group dynamics highlights five stages of group and team development. Team or group members meet during the forming stage to discuss the project at hand. This is where the leader of the group introduces himself to the team, and other team members also get to know each other. Teams and groups also usually schedule a meeting during the forming stage to discuss objectives, goals and plans. The mood is typically upbeat and energized, but the forming stage can invoke anxiety in some group or team members as they prepare for their new responsibilities, says Tuckman. Varying ideas and techniques are common when working with a group or team. The team leader ultimately decides the direction of the project. As team members become comfortable with each other, they might express dissatisfaction with their roles or the team's goals, and may even question the leader's direction. Overwhelming tasks can demotivate members of the team, and some members might display an uncooperative attitude and refuse assignments. The storming stage, according to Tuckman's theory, can strain the working relationship, and some groups fail during this phase. The third stage in Tuckman's theory is the norming stage. This is where emotional and stress levels return to normal as group or team members adapt to their new responsibilities and become more familiar with their tasks. Teams recognize the authority of the leader and listen to direction. In addition, the working relationship between team members improves and they're more willing to accept constructive criticism, advice and help from each other. Upon reaching the performing stage of Tuckman's group theory, the group or team has mastered how to work together. Bonds are typically established by this stage, which allows group and team members to rapidly