Group formation

Group formation

By Kathi Mitchell

​Did you watch the Mighty Ducks when you were a kid? You know the bad guys team that obviously had their act together and looked like no one could beat them?

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Becoming a team

​The Ducks had more to offer, but not yet. They had to go through the stages of group formation. They weren't going to be effective and awesome 'til they worked their way through.

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What they had took time.

​Until you've met each other and spent time together you don't know what any member brings to the team.

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​Give people time and they'll give you time.

​Getting to know and trust each other.

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You don't even really know yourself--as in what you're capable of. Your group is just forming, and so are you.​

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​Being a person who loves to learn is an advantage.

​At first you don't know anyone.

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Multiple Choice

What's this first stage?

• Forming

• Storming

• Norming

• Performing

You may feel any of these or all of these. You are learning about each other and what you can do together.​

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​Work on getting to know important stuff.

​Anxious? Curious? Excited?

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Multiple Choice

Who do the members look to at this time?

• The clown

• The charmer

• The leader

• The no nonsense person

Once you've gotten to know everyone in the group people start pushing against the boundaries. ​People's true character comes through.

​Conflict in a new group is inevitable.

​And then what happens?​

Multiple Choice

And we call this stage:

• Forming

• Norming

• Storming

• Mourning

​Conflict doesn't have to be bad.​ Questions about workload and responsibilities can be addressed and adjusted for. A group can get better because of the storming stage.

Here's where a leader shines.

​What's normal for this group? How will we treat each other. What can we put up with?

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Rules are necessary.

Multiple Choice

And then we get to:

• Forming

• Norming

• Performing

• Adjourning

Who works best at what?​ We resolve our differences, appreciate each others' strengths, and respect the leader's authority.

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​Norms are accepted standards of behavior.

​Now we know who we are.

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Now that we know our responsibilities, we can make our goals, do our jobs, make it great.​

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​We're not practicing anymore. We're doing it.

​This is where the magic happens.

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Multiple Choice

Now we work as a team and make it happen. We're:

• Storming

• Norming

• Mourning

• Performing

​Performing should be our longest and strongest stage, but we rarely want things to stay the same forever. Tasks are completed, resources are redeployed.

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Hopefully, this goes on (& on)

Multiple Choice

When it's finished up we get to:

• Adjourning (or/and Mourning)

• Storming

• Joining

• Leaving

​It's time to move on. You've completed your assignment. There will be things to keep and things to let go of. You'll be wiser and stronger if you've done this right.

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Your job is done.