Mgmt545- Leadership

There are five stages of team development, which are Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning. A lack of a strong, stable, and understanding relationship amongst a team can cause complications down the road. The forming stage is the beginning and the most important part; you want to get off on the right foot with an understanding of everyone’s roles, strengths, and potential contribution. The second stage is the storming; everyone must be careful at this stage because emotions begin to run loose. There may be tension and hostility between team members because of change. There can also be possible alliances formed to persuade others for a desired role/position. The third stage is Norming, where everyone comes together and becomes a well oiled machine that runs smooth. Everyone is then on the same page and strives to maintain a positive agenda to work towards the task at hand. The fourth stage is performing, which is when the team finally gets it together and becomes “mature” where everything is organized and functioning well for complex tasks. The final stage is adjourning, which is when the team separates because the task has been completed. It’s important to have a good ending because at a later time frame, the team may assemble again to face another task. (Schermerhorn 158)

Understanding these stages of group development could have assisted Christine in her leadership situation because each stage requires a different kind of attention and adjustment. An example is if the team was in the Storming stage, Christine would have realized that emotions were beginning to run loose and everyone was trying to feel everyone else out. She could have been prepared for a lot of tension and hostility among team members because of new changes.

Christine figured out each team member’s personality. Diane was quiet and didn’t volunteer much unless she was asked upon and then she gives quality responses. Mike was the “clown” in the group. Steven was the...