What really separates high performing teams from others? According to group development expert Susan Wheelan, teams go through four distinct phases before reaching their full potential. Understanding and supporting teams through these phases is critical to creating a high-performance environment.
🔹 Phase I – Feeling safe & belonging
In this initial phase, everything is about creating security. The team members get to know each other and find their place in the group. There is often a high degree of politeness, but also uncertainty. To lead the team through this phase, you as a leader need to create an environment where everyone feels heard and seen. Here it is important to clarify goals, roles and set a basis for communication within the team.
🔹 Phase II – Resistance & conflict
As the team enters Phase 2, conflicts often arise. This is where team members begin to question goals, roles, and leadership. Many see conflict as something negative, but according to Wheelan, this phase is necessary for the team to develop. As a leader, your job is to promote open communication and help the team manage conflict constructively. By solving these challenges, the team creates a stronger foundation for future collaboration.
🔹 Phase III – Trust/Confidence & Structure
After navigating through the conflicts, the team begins to build trust and structure. Here, communication becomes more open and efficient, and team members feel more secure in their roles. Processes and routines begin to settle in, and the focus shifts from individual performance to the group's common goals. In this phase, the leader's role is to support the team in maintaining clarity around goals and processes and promoting collaboration.
🔹 Phase IV – Efficient & High Performance
In this final phase, the team has reached its full potential. Now they work efficiently and independently towards their goals. Communication is direct and constructive, and team members are engaged and focused. Conflicts are dealt with quickly and constructively, which further strengthens the team's dynamics. Here, the leader can focus on facilitating and supporting the team's continued development rather than directing the daily work.
By understanding these four phases and adapting one's leadership to the team's level of development, one can create the conditions for long-term success and high performance. 💪
Have you experienced these phases in your team? How did you handle them? Please share your experiences!
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