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Leadership using the Tuckman model

Leadership of teams requires an ability to diagnose the stage of development of teams, and make appropriate interventions that move the team forward. The Tuckman model of team development is an old one (about 40 years) and very simple, but it is still very useful.

This web page helps you recognise the stage of development of the team in Tuckman terms, and then outlines the types of interventions that will move the team forward. Using the wrong type of intervention can, at best, be ineffective and, at worst, destroy any good teamwork that already exists. It is important, therefore, to use the right approach.

Diagnosis - characteristics of each stage
	Forming	Storming	Norming	Performing
Focus	Own objectives	Others/problems	Processes	Performance
Trust	Assess leader	Trust only leader	Trust the processes	Trust the people
Relationships	None/distant	Conflict	Mechanistic	Synergistic
Criticism	Covert	Overt	Productive	Comfortable
Decision making	Fragmented	Thrashing	Processed	Natural
Predictability	Politics	Volatile	Systematic	Anticipation
Role understanding	Ignorance	Ambiguity	Clarity	Intuitive
Products	Individual	Undesirable	Wooden	System
Knowledge	Poker playing	Packets	According to rules	According to need
Performance	Individual effort	Working out	Following rules	Achieving flow

Type of interventions that a leader should make
	Forming	Storming	Norming	Performing
Overview	Set objectives	Resolve conflicts	Facilitate processes	Coach
Direction	High	High	Low	Low
Support	Low	High	High	Low
Leader focus	Individual tasks	People interactions	Task interactions	Team self-development
Persuasion style	Tell/push	Sell/Consult	Listen/advise	Observe/support
Team Interaction	Leader provide links	Facilitate relationships	Facilitate team processes	Dynamic grouping
Summary	Individuals	Relationships	Processes	Self-development