Business Practice Explored – Tuckman team checklist

Team formation usually follows easily recognizable stages, known as "forming, storming, norming, and performing." Psychologist Bruce
Tuckman, who created this memorable phrase, later added a fifth stage, "adjourning" or "mourning."
You can use Tuckman's model to help your team reach the performing stage as quickly as possible.
First you identify the stage of development that your team is at. Then, you use strategies that move your team through to the next stage in the
team formation process. With focus and hard work, you'll quickly have a high-performing team.

Team Stage Expected Behaviour Actual Behaviour – What are you Actions needed to meet expectations – What are
observing? you going to do to move the team forwards?
Most team members are positive
and polite. Some are anxious, as
they haven't fully understood
Forming what work the team will do.
Others are simply excited about
the task ahead.
In the storming phase, people
start to push against the
boundaries established in the
forming stage. This is the stage
where many teams fail.
Team members who stick with
the task at hand may experience
Storming stress, particularly as they don't
have the support of established
processes, or strong relationships
with their colleagues

Tuckman worksheet (Mindtools.com) Page 1 of 2

 Business Practice Explored – Tuckman team checklist

Team Stage Expected Behaviour Actual Behaviour – What are you Actions needed to meet expectations – What are
observing? you going to do to move the team forwards?
Gradually, the team moves into
the norming stage. This is when
people start to resolve their
Norming differences, appreciate
colleagues' strengths, and respect
the authority of a leader.
The team reaches the performing
stage when hard work leads,
without friction, to the
achievement of the team's goal.
The structures and processes that
you have set up support this well.
Performing
It feels easy to be part of the
team at this stage, and people
who join or leave won't disrupt
performance.

Many teams will reach this stage

eventually. For example, project
teams exist for only a fixed
period, and even permanent
teams may be disbanded through
organizational restructuring.
Adjourning
Team members who like routine,
or who have developed close
working relationships with other
team members, may find this
stage difficult.

Tuckman worksheet (Mindtools.com) Page 2 of 2