Tuckman's Group Dynamics

In this entry I want to discuss group dynamics, The theory I have chosen to look at is Tuckman’s theory of groups (1965). This theory states that a group will go through four stages, these stages are;

è Forming

è Storming

è Norming

è Performing

The first stage is when the group meet for the first time and start to bond and form a hierarchy of order within the group.  As the group start to work together conflictions in ideas will occur and needless to say friction between certain team members will start to rise. This friction will at some point trigger an argument and the group will begin to argue. These arguments can led to a change in the structure of the hierarchy within the group, and in some cases a member of the group leaving. After the storming stage Tuckman’s theory states that the group will start to improve and start working better together with the results of the group also improving. This is the norming stage of the group. The order of the group has been sorted out and every member has a role to do within the group. The group generally starts to work together to produce reasonable results. The final stage is the ‘performing’ stage. Each member in the group performs their role well and this allows the group to work like a well-oiled machine. The Target of the group starts to be hit consistently at a high standard and this makes the group work harder to keep improving.

            In the mountain environment when a group is told to work together these four stages are regularly seen, Especially in groups of school children where the status quo can be mixed up to allow different children to work with fellow school members from different social groups. As a coach there are certain roles you can play within the group to help ease through the first three stages and allow the group to get to the performing stage with relevant ease.

            The group will have to find its own leaders and leadership style and there is not much you as the coach can do there except for choose a leader. However in the storming stage it might be necessary for the coach to step in to help resolve the issues that have arisen within the group as quickly and effectively as possible whilst allowing each member of the group to feel like a valued member. Once the group is in the norming stage the coaches role changes again to helping each member of the group to start achieving their potential within the group. This is can be done in all different manner of ways but personally I prefer the use of Socratic irony. This way the student learns to solve their own problems and that will help them remember it better. The final stage of performing is really down to the group. The coach in this stage will normally allow the group to just proceed with what they are doing and allow the group to thrive in what they are doing.