How can you use team development models to resolve conflicts effectively?
Team development models are frameworks that describe the stages of growth and change that groups go through as they work together. They can help you understand the dynamics and challenges of your project team, and how to address them effectively. In this article, you will learn how to use four popular team development models to resolve conflicts and improve collaboration in your project leadership role.
One of the most widely used team development models is Tuckman's model, which proposes that teams go through four phases: forming, storming, norming, and performing. Forming is when the team members get to know each other and their goals. Storming is when the team faces conflicts and disagreements over roles, tasks, and expectations. Norming is when the team resolves the conflicts and establishes norms and rules of conduct. Performing is when the team works efficiently and effectively towards the project outcomes. As a project leader, you can use Tuckman's model to identify which phase your team is in, and adapt your style and interventions accordingly. For example, you can provide more guidance and support in the forming and storming stages, and more autonomy and feedback in the norming and performing stages.
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Arshalan Gauhar
IIM-A | 10X Top Voice | AI Prod-M: Duke Univ | Google: Proj-M Professional | Head: E-comm Projects at LBB- a Nykaa Co. | Customer-Centric Leader | Award-Winning Program Manager | Ex-Paytm, Chegg
Employ Tuckman's model systematically to resolve conflicts:- - During 'Forming', set clear expectations for communication - 'Storming' is natural--guide teams through by identifying the conflict's root causes and mediating impartially - In 'Norming', collaborate on establishing harmony in processes - 'Performing' will see diminished conflict if earlier stages are navigated effectively. Use consistent, open dialogue throughout to preemptively address tensions, ensuring team cohesion and project continuity!
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Henrique Lopes Moreira
Project, PMO, and Product Manager | Specialist in Scrum, Kanban, Power BI, PMBOK, and Business Intelligence | 10 Years of Experience in Project Management, PMO, and Strategic Leadership
Harnessing Tuckman's Model for Team Excellence 1️⃣ Identify Team Phase: Recognize whether your team is in the forming, storming, norming, or performing stage. 2️⃣ Adapt Leadership Style: Tailor your approach to provide guidance, resolve conflicts, establish norms, or empower performance based on the current phase. 3️⃣ Facilitate Transition: Use strategies to smoothly transition your team through each phase, fostering growth and efficiency. Implement Tuckman's model to navigate your team's development journey, enhancing collaboration and project success.
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Ivens Guedes
Gestor na Área de Saúde Suplementar
Os modelos de desenvolvimento de equipe fornecem uma estrutura essencial para lidar com conflitos de maneira eficaz, adaptando as abordagens conforme as diferentes fases de formação, tormenta, normalização e desempenho. Desde a fase inicial, onde é crucial promover a comunicação aberta e a construção de relacionamentos, até a fase de desempenho, onde é fundamental manter o foco nos resultados e buscar soluções que otimizem o desempenho coletivo, os modelos de desenvolvimento de equipe orientam a resolução colaborativa de conflitos, enfatizando a importância da diversidade de perspectivas e da resolução proativa de problemas para o sucesso do grupo.
Another useful team development model is Belbin's model, which identifies nine team roles that contribute to the team's success: plant, resource investigator, coordinator, shaper, monitor evaluator, teamworker, implementer, completer finisher, and specialist. Each role has its strengths and weaknesses, and a balanced team should have a mix of different roles. As a project leader, you can use Belbin's model to assess the team role preferences of your team members, and assign them tasks and responsibilities that match their skills and interests. You can also use Belbin's model to resolve conflicts that arise from role clashes or gaps, by facilitating communication and cooperation among team members with different roles.
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Henrique Lopes Moreira
Project, PMO, and Product Manager | Specialist in Scrum, Kanban, Power BI, PMBOK, and Business Intelligence | 10 Years of Experience in Project Management, PMO, and Strategic Leadership
Unlocking Team Potential with Belbin's Model 1️⃣ Assess Team Roles: Identify the Belbin team roles among your members, highlighting their unique strengths and potential areas for growth. 2️⃣ Task Allocation: Assign tasks that align with each team member's Belbin role, ensuring a harmonious blend of skills and preferences. 3️⃣ Manage Role Dynamics: Use insights from Belbin's model to address conflicts and enhance synergy, fostering a collaborative team environment. Leverage Belbin's model to optimize team composition and dynamics, driving project success through strategic role alignment.
A third team development model that can help you resolve conflicts is Lencioni's model, which outlines five dysfunctions of a team: absence of trust, fear of conflict, lack of commitment, avoidance of accountability, and inattention to results. These dysfunctions can undermine the team's performance and cohesion, and create a toxic work environment. As a project leader, you can use Lencioni's model to diagnose the root causes of the team's problems, and implement strategies to overcome them. For example, you can build trust by encouraging vulnerability and honesty, foster constructive conflict by promoting debate and feedback, increase commitment by clarifying goals and expectations, enhance accountability by setting standards and consequences, and focus on results by rewarding achievements and celebrating successes.
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Arshalan Gauhar
IIM-A | 10X Top Voice | AI Prod-M: Duke Univ | Google: Proj-M Professional | Head: E-comm Projects at LBB- a Nykaa Co. | Customer-Centric Leader | Award-Winning Program Manager | Ex-Paytm, Chegg
Implement Lencioni's model by first cultivating trust—an environment where vulnerability is valued. Encourage open, candid discourse to thwart artificial harmony and address conflicts. Drive accountability through shared team objectives, not just individual metrics. To prevent ambiguity, clarify roles and articulate overarching goals. This framework transforms conflict from a hindrance to a catalyst for team growth, driving results through collective commitment and a culture where healthy debate is synonymous with progress!
A fourth team development model that can help you resolve conflicts is the adjourning stage, which is sometimes added to Tuckman's model as a fifth phase. The adjourning stage is when the team completes the project and disbands, or moves on to a new project. This stage can be emotional and stressful for some team members, who may feel a sense of loss, anxiety, or resentment. As a project leader, you can use the adjourning stage to acknowledge the team's accomplishments and contributions, and provide feedback and recognition. You can also use the adjourning stage to facilitate closure and transition, by addressing any unresolved issues, conducting lessons learned, and offering support and resources for the next steps.
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