The Performance Level, Characteristics, and Proven Strategies for the Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning Phases of Team Development: Update for 2025
13 January 2025 14:11
Introduction
Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 100 subsequent studies, and Scott M. Graffius’ first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his 'Phases of Team Development' as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development—Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning—inclusive of a graph showing how performance varies by phase, as well as the characteristics and strategies for each phase.
Graffius initially developed his unique material in 2008, and he periodically updates it. This article presents the refreshed 2025 edition.
Project Managers, Scrum Masters, Agile Coaches, DevOps Leads, and other leaders can apply these insights to overcome team challenges, fostering happiness, productivity, and success.
This article has “team development” in the title. Alternative terms that may be interchangeable in the context of this discussion include group development, group dynamics, high-performance teaming, strategic team building, team agility, team building, team coaching, team collaboration, team dynamics, team leadership, team optimization, team performance, team tradecraft, teamcraft, teamwork, and teamwork tradecraft.
Five Phases of Team Development
1. Forming
Characteristics of the Forming phase include displaying eagerness, socializing, a generally polite tone, sticking to safe topics, being unclear about how one fits in, and some anxiety and questioning.
Strategies for Forming include taking the ‘lead,’ being highly visible, facilitating introductions, providing the ‘big picture,’ establishing clear expectations, communicating success criteria, and ensuring response times are quick.
2. Storming
Traits of the Storming phase include some resistance, lack of participation, conflict arising from differences of opinion, competition, high levels of emotions, and tension.
Strategies for Storming include requesting and encouraging feedback, identifying issues and facilitating their resolution, normalizing matters, and building trust by honoring commitments.
3. Norming
Features of the Norming phase include developing cohesion; purpose and goals are well-understood; more confident; improved commitment; members are engaged and supportive; and relief, lowered anxiety.
Strategies for Norming include delivering feedback, recognizing individual and team efforts, providing learning/upskilling opportunities, and monitoring the ‘energy’ of the team.
4. Performing
Characteristics of the Performing phase include high-level performance; demonstrations of interdependence and self-management; elevated empathy, trust, and morale; individuals defer to team needs; and producing deliverables effectively and consistently.
Strategies for Performing include ‘guiding from the side’ (minimal intervention), highlighting successes, and encouraging collective decision-making and problem-solving.
5. Adjourning
Typical traits of the Adjourning phase (also referred to as the Transitioning or Mourning phase) include potential sadness and the disbanding of temporary teams.
Strategies for Adjourning include communicating change; conducting a summative team evaluation via a retrospective event, lessons learned meeting, or similar session; recognizing individual and team efforts and achievements; and celebrating the team's accomplishments.
Conclusion
These insights provide a practical framework to navigate the complexities of group dynamics. Whether you’re a Project Manager guiding a cross-functional team, a Scrum Master fostering agility, a DevOps Lead bridging development and operations, or another leader, understanding and leveraging the phases of team development can transform challenges into opportunities. And they’ll advance the teams’—and your own—happiness, productivity, and success.
Organizations around the world engage Graffius to deliver compelling talks and workshops. To date, he's presented sessions at 91 conferences and other events across 25 countries:
- Armenia,
- Australia,
- Brazil,
- Canada,
- Czech Republic,
- Finland,
- France,
- Germany,
- Greece,
- Hong Kong,
- Hungary,
- India, Ireland,
- Lithuania,
- Luxembourg,
- Nepal,
- Netherlands,
- New Zealand,
- Norway,
- Romania,
- Sweden,
- Switzerland,
- United Arab Emirates,
- United Kingdom,
- and the United States.
Scott M. Graffius’ 'Phases of Team Development' intellectual property is central and key to many of those sessions.
Graffius is a global expert on high-performance teams and he delivers engaging talks and workshops that bring teamwork tradecraft to life. His sessions are tailored to inspire, educate, and equip audiences with actionable tools for success. Whether at global conferences or private corporate events, he provides a fresh perspective on leadership and teamwork.
For booking inquiries, complete the speaker engagement request form or email directly to explore how Graffius can help elevate your organization’s performance.
Read on for:
- Coverage of Graffius’ Research,
- Sources/References,
- About Scott M. Graffius,
- Permission Request Information,
- How to Cite This Article,
- and more.
Graffius’ Research is Widely Cited, Featured, and Used
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, universities, researchers, journalists, and others around the world have featured and used prior editions of Scott M. Graffius’ ‘Phases of Team Development’ material. Here are some examples:
- Adobe,
- American Management Association,
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute,
- Bayer,
- Boston University,
- Broadcom,
- Cisco,
- CodeMonk,
- Dagen,
- Deimos Aerospace,
- DevOps Institute,
- Erste Group Bank AG (Austria),
- FINAT,
- Ford Motor Company,
- FSU College of Medicine,
- Hasso Plattner Institute (Hasso-Plattner-Institut für Digital Engineering GmbH),
- IEEE,
- Innovify,
- Johns Hopkins University,
- Journal of Neurosurgery,
- LeadingEng,
- Life Sciences Trainers & Educators Network (LTEN),
- London South Bank University,
- Manufacturers Alliance,
- Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
- Microsoft,
- New Zealand Government,
- Oracle,
- Prima Resource,
- Royal Australasian College of Physicians,
- Singapore University of Social Sciences,
- TBS Switzerland,
- Technical University of Munich,
- Torrens University (Australia),
- Tufts University,
- U.S. National Park Service,
- U.S. Tennis Association,
- UC San Diego,
- UK Sports Institute,
- University of Galway (Ireland),
- University of Graz (Austria),
- University of Waterloo,
- Victorian Institute of Technology (Australia),
- Virginia Tech,
- Warsaw University of Technology,
- Western Sydney University,
- Yale University,
- and many others.
These examples demonstrate the widespread recognition and application of Scott M. Graffius' 'Phases of Team Development' work across diverse sectors and entities around the world.
References/Sources
Here’s the select (partial) bibliography:
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- Yale University (2021, October 14). The Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning Partners with the School of Engineering & Applied Science (SEAS). Available at: https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/news/poorvu-center-partners-seas-enhance-diversity-equity-inclusion-and-belonging.
How to Cite This Article
Graffius, Scott M. (2024, January 13). The Performance Level, Characteristics, and Proven Strategies for the Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning Phases of Team Development: Update for 2025. Available at: https://agilescrumguide.com/blog/files/phases-of-team-development-update-for-2025.html.
Permission Request Information
To request permission to use the 'Phases of Team Development' visual shown at the top of this article, email Scott M. Graffius. If your request is approved, Graffius will give you an authorization/license and, if applicable, high-resolution files of the visual.
About Scott M. Graffius

Scott M. Graffius, Founder of Exceptional Agility, is an expert practitioner and thought leader in agile, project, program, portfolio, and PMO management. He has generated over $1.9 billion of business value in aggregate for Global Fortune 500 companies and other organizations he has served. Graffius is a multi-award-winning author and highly sought-after international keynote speaker, having presented at 89 conferences and other events across 25 countries. Businesses, professional associations, governments, and universities have used and featured him and his content. Select examples include Microsoft, Oracle, Broadcom, Cisco, Gartner, EY, Project Management Institute, IEEE, SANS Institute, National Academy of Sciences, United States Department of Energy, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Yale University, Tufts University, and many others.
Visit https://ScottGraffius.com to learn more, and connect with Scott on:
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