Stage 1. FORMING

This is a stressful phase when new teams come together. The team could be anything from a specific project team, a new sales team, or simply a team that has a new manager.

Reivers can support the team to minimise the stress involved in setting up. At this stage, although everyone is probably excited to get started in the team, everyone is probably a bit wary of each other, particularly if they do not know anyone and particularly if the manager is new.

Reivers can assist the team to get to know each other by getting them to work together on team tasks as well as facilitating sessions that allow the team members to express their hopes, concerns and aspirations.

Various self-assessment tools can be used in order that the team members become more aware of each others’ personality styles, strengths and development areas. At the end of any Reivers course with a team in the forming stage, the team will come away with:

Stage 2. STORMING

Storming is a challenging phase and Reivers can support the team through this phase by helping the team understand why things are perhaps not going as well as they would like. Storming usually arises as a result of goals, roles and rules all becoming confused and unclear.

No matter how clear the team was in relation to the goals, roles and rules during the forming stage it is very often the case that the individual team member interpretations of these roles and rules is somewhat different in the reality of the workplace.

This results in confusion when different behaviors are evident and conflicts can arise with the potential for factions being created within the team.

Reivers can support the team to discover what is going wrong and through expert team coaching assist them to discuss openly how best they can recover and get back on track to success. If your team is in the ‘storming’ phase then Reivers will support you to achieve the following:

	A sense of what is ‘happening’ – What’s going right and what’s not happening the way it should.
	A new plan that will assist in addressing the shortfalls that have been identified.
	A re-focusing on the goals, aims and targets with a clear understanding of the plan and behaviors required to succeed.
	A  re-motivated team with a real sense of purpose.

Stage 3. NORMING

Do you remember what it is like when a real storm passes? The winds drop, the sky brightens, the birds sing again. Teamwork is like this also. There is a calm, a focus. Goals are clearly understood. Roles are clarified. The rules and regulations are being adhered to and people are working together positively. Relationships become stronger as people are more aware of each other.

Strengths and weaknesses are realised and utilised accordingly. Norming is characterised by acceptance. Whereas in the storming stage, people were apt to rebel very quickly, this is now not the case and if someone has a grievance, complaint or suggestion then the proper processes are used and people tend to be listened to.

You might not think that teambuilding experts like Reivers will be needed at this stage but an important aspect of the Norming stage is that there has to be regular review of progress and the ‘edge’ has to be maintained or there maybe a tendency to slip back towards the storming phase.

Stage 4. PERFORMING

Not every team makes it to the performing stage. Many get stuck at Norming and although everything appears normal, there is a lack of momentum and motivation towards achieving the all important team goals. It is as though the team is comfortable in this stage and does not want to progress further for fear of returning to a storming stage, a stage that probably was very uncomfortable for most people.

It is at the performing stage where team members really concentrate on the team goals. They are determined to work towards them, as they know what rewards are available to them on completion. They are also aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the team, and they appreciate these, and also work towards developing the weaknesses and enhancing the strengths.

This is a period of great personal growth among team members and Reivers can support the team and team members to enhance their team-working skills to an even greater level than perhaps they have experienced before.

Reivers can design exacting and challenging team tasks that will test even the most productive teams. By stretching the ‘performing’ team’s abilities Reivers can take the team to new heights that will prepare them for even greater success in the workplace.

Reivers can support the team to review its progress and critically look at whether this progress is enough to ensure the team is as successful as it wants to be. Reivers will ‘challenge’ the team to look very critically at all aspects of the plan and the processes in order that it can be even ore effective and productive.

Please contact us via e-mail or Tel: 00 44 1434 240245 for more information.