Squadron Officer School (SOS) Class 26A Practice Test

The first stage of team development in Tuckman's model is Forming. This stage is characterized by team members coming together and getting acquainted. During the Forming phase, individuals are typically polite and tentative as they try to understand their roles within the group, establish a sense of security, and develop initial relationships.

At this point, the team is often unclear about its objectives, structure, and processes, as members are focused more on figuring out what is expected of them and how they will work together. It’s a crucial stage where interactions are guided by social norms rather than performance, allowing for the establishment of relationships that will be developed further as the team progresses to later stages.

The subsequent stages—Storming, Norming, and Performing—represent the evolution of the team as it confronts challenges, builds cohesion, and achieves its goals. Thus, understanding Forming as the foundation is essential for grasping how teams mature and progress through the subsequent stages of development.