The forming stage is the initial phase of team development. It includes introductions, learning about the team (their backgrounds, skills, etc.) and getting on the same page about the purpose of the team. This stage does not necessarily last long but is very important to get the team on the same page and work towards the goal in an effective manner. 

• Introduction: Members get acquainted through introductions focus on fostering initial connections and rapport.

• Project Overview: The team has one person go over an overview of the project, its objectives, and relevant background information, including documents or context critical to success.

• Role and Task Assignments: The team discusses individual roles, responsibilities, and expectations to ensure everyone understands their contribution to the collective goal, also go over specific tasks for their next meetings

• Establish Norms: Appropriate behaviors, communication methods (video calls, teams, etc.), and collaboration strategies are laid out to guide the team's interactions

In the storming stage, team members have discovered each other's personalities, skills and beliefs. Team members start to express their ideas and opinions. Often this can lead to disagreements and conflict. People may argue over roles, responsibilities, or the best way to get things done. This stage can feel messy, but it’s an important step in learning how to work together effectively.

• Open Communication: Step by step team members should share their own thoughts, beliefs and ideas. 

• Listening to Others: Everyone then listens carefully to  better understand their team and other ideas. This is important even if they don’t agree.

• Resolving Conflicts: When and if disagreements arise. Team members should respond and address calmly and focus on finding solutions that will work for everyone.

• Clarifying Roles: Each team member’s role and responsibilities should be clear. With clarity in responsibility, it helps everyone stay accountable. 

In this phase team members really start to come together and the work really starts to hasten. The team members start to trust the process and come together to work towards the goals that they have set. Team members also start to feel comfortable around each other, they openly share ideas and problems are resolved in this phase. 

• Open Communication: Team members share their own thoughts and ideas. 

• Team building activities: These activities can help bring the team together and help everyone be on the same page. 

• Continuously adapt: Not everything will go the way it was exactly planned. Adapt and resolve conflicts. 

• Resolve Conflicts: Team members need to work together to resolve conflicts that surface. When team members work through problems the team grows closer together. 

When group norms are officially established it is considered the beginning of the performing stage. This is when the team has already built relationships and gained trust among each other but now prioritizes working on the task at hand. 

This is considered to be the stage of full function between team members. They can collaborate and make decisions successfully. Although issues are inevitable, they are resolved without strife when they arise. Everyone works together to achieve goals and make progress. In the performing stage, leaders have come to understand how to best influence their team and help celebrate milestones and acknowledge achievements.  

The Adjourning phase is the last of the five stage team building model. This phase is optional and usually depends on whether the team is a temporary arrangement. In this optional phase the team members come together to talk about their experience and give feedback. This phase can be used to celebrate the things that were done well and to establish longer lasting practices and norms that were found during the project.

• Rewards: Dispuse any awards or prizes from the performance given by the team. It is important to highlight what individuals did well.

• Summarize: Discuss how things went on a larger scale. What patterns were successful and which were not?

• Look Ahead: Discuss and make a plan for anything that can be implemented fro what was learned. Make sure they are specific so that they can be tracked.