Perhaps it’s just me, but I’ve been indoctrinated into the Tuckman Model as THE view or model when it comes to team maturation and overall health.
You all remember Tuckman, don’t you?
He presented the following stages:
- Forming,
- Storming,
- Norming,
- and Performing
- sometimes Adjourning
that teams go through in their evolution to a solidly performing state.
One of the things that it’s influenced in my coaching and leadership style is the predilection to honor the team. That is, once a team is formed and performing, I am loathed to break them up for whatever reason. Even good reasons like the business priorities have changed or there is a desperate need for the skills of one team member in another team. Or even, the team has some dysfunctional relationships brewing.