Features:

• When a team is forming, members cautiously explore the boundaries of acceptable behavior
• Because there is so much going on to distract members' attention in the beginning, the team accomplishes little, if anything that concerns its project goals. This perfectly normal.

Feelings:

• Excitement, anticipation, & optimism
• Pride in being chosen for the project
• Initial, tentative attachment to the team
• Suspicion, fear, and anxiety about the job ahead

Behaviors:

• Attempts to define the task and decide how it will be accomplished
• Attempts to determine the acceptable group behavior and how to deal with group problems
• Decisions on what needs to be gathered
• Lofty abstract discussions of concepts and issues; or, for some members impatience with these discussions
• Complaints about the organization and barriers to the task

Features:

• Storming is probably the most difficult stage for the team.
• They begin to realize that the task is different and more difficult than they imagined, becoming testy, blameful, or overzealous.
• They try to rely solely on their personal and professional experience, resisting any need for collaborating with other team members

Feelings:

• Resistance to the task
• Sharp fluctuations in attitude about the team and the project's chance of success

Behaviors:

• Arguing among members even when they agree on the real issue
• Defensiveness and competition; factions and "choosing sides"
• Questioning the wisdom of those who selected this project and appointed the other members of team
• Establishing unrealistic goals; concern about excessive work
• A perceived "pecking order"; disunity, increased tension, and jealousy

. Features:

• Members reconcile competing loyalties and responsibilities.
• They accept the team, team ground rules (or "norms"), their roles in the team and the individuality of fellow members.
• Emotional conflict is reduced as previously competitive relationships become more cooperative.

Feelings:

• A new ability to express criticism constructively
• Acceptance of membership in the team
• Relief that it seems everything is going to work out

Behaviors:

• An attempt to achieve harmony by avoiding conflict
• More friendliness, confiding in each other, and sharing of personal problems; discussing the team's dynamics
• A sense of team cohesion, a common spirit and goals
• Establishing and maintaining team ground rules and boundaries (the "norms")

Features:

• The team has settled its relationships and expectations.
• They can begin performing.
• Team members have discovered and accepted each other's strengths and weaknesses and learned what their roles are.

Feelings:

• Members have insights into personal and group processes, and better understanding of each other's strengths and weaknesses.
• Satisfaction at the team's progress

Behaviors:

• Constructive self change
• Ability to prevent or work through group problems
• Close attachment to team