Group Barriers

As a manager responsible for introducing new employees to their teams you must become an expert in communication. This is not going to be an easy task, but I would like to help by passing on some discerning information during your transition. If my last few years in this role have taught me anything it would be that understanding the different stages of group development will prove invaluable. For that reason the five stages; forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning will bethe primary subjects throughout this communication. Understanding what they are how they are seen, and how to overcome the barriers that may be presented from each stage.

Five Stages of Group Development

The first stage of group development is “Forming”, which is where you are forming a personal relationship. Group members rely on safe patterned behavior and look to the group leader for guidance. Members attempt to become oriented to the task at hand as well as to one another. Discussion centers around defining the scope of the task, how to approach it, and similar concerns (Tuckman, B. 1965).

The second stage of group development is called “Storming”, it is characterized by competition and conflict in the personal relations dimension an organization in the task-functions dimension. As the group members attempt to organize for the task, conflict may occur in the personal relations. Individuals have to bend and mold their feelings, ideas, attitudes, and beliefs to suit the group organization. Because of “fear exposure” or “fear of failure”, there will be an increased desire for structural clarification and commitment. In order to move to the next stage the group members must move from testing to proving mentality to a problem-solving mentality. The most important trait in helping groups to move on to the next stage seems to be the ability to listen.

The third stage of group development is called “Norming”, in this stage you form an interpersonal relations characterized...