Welcome back loyal leaders, Capt. Fletch here, zooming in for another edition of the Leadership Toolbox! Last time we explored stage 3 of team development: norming. During that phase, teams explore trust and learn to hold each other accountable. Afterward, we find ourselves at the much-anticipated stage 4: performing. By “performing” I do not mean the riveting theater performances my good friend Brock Yordy was part of in college, rather our team finally begins to function as a well-oiled machine.
Once a team establishes trust, accountability and culture during stage 3, they are ready to test themselves against a real task. Up to this point, your team may have only trained and prepared for a job or objective. Once members prove the team can function cohesively, you as the leader must determine the mission they are ready for — when and what type. Team composition can make this difficult. Are they all new people with a seasoned leader? Are they a team of field-forged veterans? Perhaps they are college students looking to break into the industry. Whatever the case, use your knowledge of the team to as a guide to the team’s readiness. A task of the wrong magnitude or complexity can damage even a well-performing team.