Stages of Team Development: Norming

Remember a time when a real storm passes. The winds drop, the sky brightens, it's quiet and you can hear the birds sing once more.  Your team will also be this way.  It may even catch you by surprise. Your team exhibits a calm, a focus.  Goals are clearly understood, roles are clarified and rules and processes are being adhered to. People are working together positively, and relationship are becoming stronger as people are more aware of each other.  Strengths and weaknesses are realized and utilized accordingly.  In short, this stage can be characterized as acceptance. 

It doesn't mean that individuals won't have a grievance, complaint or suggestion.  The difference is that instead of open rebellion, the proper processes are used and people tend to know that they are listened to and have a voice. This is a time to be celebrated and appreciated but you still have work to do. 

Your role in this stage to ensure that this calm continues and that any behaviours that arise that my threaten the calm are channeled in the right direction. You also have the important role to convey information particularly in relation to the successes that are starting to occur within the team. You should be spending a lot of time with individual team members coaching them and supporting them to develop their capabilities that relate to the individual's team roles and the tasks that they have to perform in relation to the team goals. 

Norming: once you have achieved this stage, remember to

• Lessen the direction and spend the with individuals starting to coach them in relation to their roles within the team and the tasks that they have to perform
• At the same time, you will be challenging team members to take on extra capabilities in order to move the team on to the next stage

What is the next stage? Performing is the desired end goal.