This is the second blog in the team development series. This time we are going to talk about the first stage of the Tuckman model of team development: forming.
The formative stage in team development
This is the initial phase when people come together, usually optimistic and cautiously exploring their positions and roles.
The start is made. A joke is made. The ice has been broken. In terms of team development, such a group is in phase 1 'Formation'. People start to feel freer and express themselves more openly. It soon becomes clear who takes the lead, who is a bit quieter, who is the thorn in the flesh, and who is the joker. As a leader, it is important at this stage to set frameworks, agree on codes of conduct, and provide safety.
What is required of you in communication as a leader?
As a leader, you help define the team's purpose, align individual capabilities with collective goals and establish a clear vision.
As a leader, it is important to encourage communication between team members in stage 1. Such as giving and receiving feedback and encouraging active listening to each other rather than listening to react (with mainly your own opinion).
As an executive coach, I facilitate the discovery of different leadership styles to meet the demands of the team. The focus of stage 1 'Forming' is to foster an environment of trust and encourage open communication.
What forms of work do you apply in the Forming stage?
How do you foster an environment of trust and encourage open communication? Think of team dynamics as an iceberg; above the water surface, as a leader, you provide clarity on frameworks, roles, and expectations. On the undercurrent, at this stage you are dealing with individual thinking patterns such as: 'I do what is asked of me, and that is enough; anything can be used against me, and the manager is ultimately responsible'.
To help you with this, I have developed several tools that go deeper into feedback and listening. During executive coaching, we discuss and apply the skills that are supportive in the initial Forming stage of a team.
Should you deploy them in a team meeting or share them with third parties, I would appreciate it if you mentioned the source.
I am happy to share the following tools with you and you can download them here.
Download the hand-out giving and receiving feedback.
Download the handout 3 levels of listening
Are you curious about the next stage in team development, Storming? If so, continue reading here..
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