Team development is a crucial aspect for the success of any business. This is why there is a separate HR department for team hiring. In the HR department, professionals are responsible for recruiting suitable individuals for the business. However, if you are an entrepreneur starting your own startup, it becomes essential for you to hire the right people.

Before hiring a good team for your startup, it is important to understand the stages of team development. Let’s explore the stages of developing a good team:

Team Development’s 5 Stages:

The model for team development, known as “Tuckman’s Stages of Group Development,” was introduced by Professor Bruce Tuckman in 1965 at Ohio University. Initially, it had four stages, but in 1977, a fifth stage was added. Let’s delve into these 5 stages of team development:

1. Forming:

This is the first stage of team development, where a new team is formed. Team members are excited about their roles and put their best effort into their work. Respect for other team members is established, and individuals try to understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses. This is an ideal time for leaders to set their vision and mission with the team. Key performance indicators (KPIs) for each team member are also established during this stage.

2. Storming:

In this stage, all team members have clear targets, and each member innovates to achieve them. Conflicts may arise as a result of this, and it becomes the responsibility of leaders to resolve conflicts and keep the project on track. Recognizing and encouraging high-performing team members becomes crucial during this stage. Breaking down the big goals of the business into smaller, achievable goals helps increase team productivity.

3. Norming:

During this phase, team members understand each other’s perspectives, and conflicts decrease. As a leader, your focus should be on encouraging stability within the team. Only intervene as necessary, and primarily focus on promoting stability among team members.

4. Performing:

By this stage, all team members understand each other’s work methods. It is time to focus on progress at the individual and team levels. Assessing the work of each team member to enhance productivity becomes crucial. It’s important to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of team members and encourage their ideas.

5. Adjourning:

Originally, there were only four stages, and the fifth stage, Adjourning, was added later. In this stage, you may see one or more team members leaving. It is crucial to recognize their contributions to the business and growth. Simultaneously, you need to find replacements and initiate the entire process again with the new team member.

Not understanding these 5 stages of team development can hinder the formation of a good team for a startup. As a result, startups may either shut down or fail to establish a stable team.