The Stage of Group Development

I am sitting on the desk next to my friend. She is working on her discussion assignment, which is about the critics of five stages of group development model.  I take her class handouts and start to read. I find some interesting terminology that is related to the business I am at right now.

First of all, there are two types of groups: formal groups and informal groups. Formal group is a group of selected people to accomplish organizational goals and task. Informal group is developed around individuals, who have common interests and friendship. In real business and personal world, most of time people form either formal groups or informal groups. The interesting part about our business is that we start with a formal group and slowly transfer to an informal group. In the beginning people who join this business have various reasons: need a job; gain some work experience; make money; want more advancement opportunities; like to change to a new work environment; etc. Later on people decide to stay and stick around because in a group, everyone is inspired by each other; they start to have vision and group goals that will drive everyone to reach their own business and personal goals.

After understand the types of groups, I start to read the five stages of group development. They are called forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. Now let me explain each of them.

Forming is the beginning and also a comfortable stage to be in. Individual doesn’t know other people’s personalities and they don’t really know if everyone is going to be fit in the group. At the stage all the serious problems and feelings are avoided because the individual wants to be accepted by the others. At the same time, everyone is gathering information and learning other people’s behavior. The forming stage is like entry-level time in our business. People are new to the business so they are learning the system, company, and their co-workers including other entry-level people, leaders, assistant managers, and mangers. At this early stage of their career, what they really need is support and courage from other people.

Next stage is called storming. It is a battle stage. Everyone starts to have their own voice and some real conflicts occur. In our business, it can happen between leaders and leaders; between leaders and management team; and between management and management team. For example, when the manager announces a new challenging standard, some leaders agree and support; some leaders think the new standard will not work; whilst some leaders just wish to remain in an old and easy standard. At this stage, some leader will act like a top leader and engage to be solution oriented.

The norming stage becomes more established compares to the storming stage because at this time people are clear about their goals and responsibilities. Everyone understands each other and appreciate other’s skills and contribution. I understand this stage when a leader has a few strong top leaders in his or her team and the whole team has a version and goal. For example, I want the team I am at is the best and coolest team in the office. Everyone is looking up at us as the best team to train and develop people.

Not all the group can reach performing stage. At this stage the group identity is high and all the energy is going toward to one direction. I think this is like a D4 (high competence high commitment) stage in our business. Everyone has interdependent relationship with each other. The whole group is driving to one direction, and as an individual everyone is passionate and 100% committed to contribute to the team and the whole office.

After first four stages, it moves on to the last stage adjourning. When you join an awesome team and experience everything, by the end of the day you are very capable to develop and manage yourself and your own team. Clearly this is the time when an assistant manager gets promoted to a manager. The new manager will apply everything they’ve learned from their passed experience and failures on their own business. Now they start to run their own show.