Does your new team feel like it’s hit a rough patch? It’s completely normal.

New managers (and even experienced ones) can be frustrated by an apparent lack of cohesion or cooperation after they take over. It feels like things are going well and people are getting along and being polite, and then suddenly, everything goes wrong fast!

What most managers don’t realize is that this is part of a very normal and predictable cycle that teams go through. Once you’ve become familiar with what that cycle is and why it happens, it ceases being an unpredictable frustration and starts becoming an opportunity that you can build on.

Tuckman's model is one of the most fundamental concepts in team development, and it plays a crucial role in understanding how groups form, evolve, and function effectively. In Teacher-First Management, this model is explored in detail, giving readers the insights they need to apply it in educational settings and beyond.

The model outlines five stages of team development: forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. Each of these stages represents a critical phase in a team's growth, with its own challenges and opportunities. Understanding which stage your team is in can help you adapt your leadership approach, encourage better communication, and foster an environment where every member can thrive.

In Teacher-First Management, a whole chapter is devoted to managing your team through this process, along with practical solutions for moving your team to the performing stage and keeping them there. If you’re interested in getting an indication of where your team is in their development, take this short quiz:

What stage is your team in?

If you’re interested in learning a lot more, please consider purchasing my book here.