“Tuckman’s Stages” to Team Work
EDUC 6165
According to Bruce Wayne Tuckman, former theorist and researcher of group dynamics, believed that in order to achieve effective communication in the context of
team work it takes 5 stages. These stages consist of:
1) forming- group selection and
introductions
2) storming- shared visions and
goals
3) norming- agreement and
accepting visions and goals
4) performing- progression
5) adjourning- completing goals.
(Abudi, 2010)
Each stage shows audience that positive
motivation, feedback, support, and active listening can in fact transit
effective communication. Not one stage is more important than another because without
forming there is no storming and without norming there is no adjourning (for
example). It is a structure that needs all its parts.
Tuckman suggested in his research that as team work
kicks off, orchestrates, and ends members of the team begin to feel a closeness
to each other which makes adjourning possibly the most difficult stage since
emotions become involved and take control. As Dr. Randi Wolfe states team work
is relational therefore, yes, emotions are involved and can empower effective communication
as visions, goals, and completion avail (Laureate Education, 2011).
I remember crying my last day of 3rd
grade, excited to leave Jr High, and scared to graduate high school. I cried
happy tears when I was accepted into my first college, excited I made Dean’s
List, and scared to begin online classes for my Master's…. Because I believe I had or have a
team behind me as I have journeyed through education I feel now that Bruce
Wayne Tuckman’s ideal stage of adjourning is the hardest only because there is
a comforting sense of self and inclining rewards as team support and build progress with
relationships, visions, and common goals in mind. Ending a relationship- a journey- is difficult.
Emotions have carried me thus this far
and as I am nearing my Master’s Program this year I can admit I feel just as
sad and excited as I felt when I was younger. My friends, family, and
colleagues have showed team work and value of team work to me. I have learned
that in anything we do personally and/or professionally we are part of a group-
a team- whether we realize it or not no matter context. My educational
experiences have involved tremendous amounts of team work and I thank all those
involved.
Works Cited
Abudi, G. (2010). The Five Stages of
Team Development: A Case Study. Retrieved from http://projects-mart.co.uk/the-stages-of-team-development-a-case-study.html
Laureate Education (Producer). (2011).
Team Building Strategies [Video File]. Retrieved from http://class.waldenu.edu
Cassandra,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your informative blog. Yes, adjourning is the hardest. It comes with so many types emotions. You're excited, afraid, happy, sad, apprehensive. While there is a sense of accomplishment there's also a sense of sadness because something that we hold dear is coming to an end. The norm has been interrupted and the relationships that were formed will no longer exists in that particular fashion.
Thanks for posting.
Angela.
It is interesting that you bring up the idea of emotions because I feel that so often emotions get in the way of team work, trust, perception and reality. Emotions are what drive us, good or bad. Yet, they are what get the best of us. Adjourning is an emotional task. But if we can find the best in it is that not worth it? Or even if we have learned tough lessons and the adjourning is not as great as we anticipated can we still learn, love and move forward?
ReplyDeleteThank you for the feedback. I think it is how we use our emotions when it comes to team work and communication that make completing a task good or bad or how we adjourn. In addition, I think that we can still learn, love and move forward even if adjourn is bothersome. Every member of a team has to be positive despite the many obstacles.
DeleteThank you again Kaylla,
Cassandra Richards
Great post on the five stages of a group. You are correct that every member of a team has to be a positive despite the many obstacles. No matter what we do we are always a team and look forward to prospering in the future. I look forward to see all of your success.
ReplyDeleteDear Cassandra,
ReplyDeleteSince you wrote about your experience in the 3rd grade, I also want to share that I enjoyed being the part of basket ball group, when I was in junior high school. Yes, being part of the group, is not only the group, where we work as a professional, but also a group, where we start and reach goals together.
Great Post.