How can you build trust and cohesion in your team during the norming stage?

1 Establish clear roles and expectations

One of the keys to building trust and cohesion in your team is to ensure that everyone knows their roles and responsibilities, and what is expected of them. This can help to avoid confusion, duplication, or gaps in the work, and also to create a sense of accountability and ownership. You can use tools such as role charts, job descriptions, or RACI matrices to clarify who does what, when, and how. You can also review and update these regularly to reflect any changes or feedback.

2 Communicate openly and frequently

Another important factor for trust and cohesion is communication. You need to communicate openly and frequently with your team members, and encourage them to do the same. This can help to build rapport, share information, provide feedback, and address any issues or concerns. You can use various channels and methods of communication, such as meetings, emails, chats, or surveys, depending on the purpose and preference of your team. You can also create a communication plan or protocol to define the frequency, format, and content of your communication.

3 Recognize and appreciate each other

A third way to build trust and cohesion in your team is to recognize and appreciate each other's contributions, strengths, and achievements. This can help to boost morale, motivation, and confidence, and also to create a culture of gratitude and respect. You can use different ways to recognize and appreciate your team members, such as giving feedback, saying thank you, celebrating milestones, or rewarding performance. You can also encourage your team members to recognize and appreciate each other, by creating opportunities for peer feedback, recognition, or praise.

4 Encourage collaboration and learning

A fourth tip to build trust and cohesion in your team is to encourage collaboration and learning. This can help to foster a sense of teamwork, synergy, and innovation, and also to enhance the skills and knowledge of your team members. You can use various strategies to encourage collaboration and learning, such as assigning tasks or projects that require teamwork, creating cross-functional or diverse teams, providing coaching or mentoring, or offering training or development opportunities. You can also promote a learning culture, by encouraging your team members to share best practices, lessons learned, or ideas for improvement.

5 Have fun and socialize

A final suggestion to build trust and cohesion in your team is to have fun and socialize. This can help to create a positive and enjoyable work environment, and also to strengthen the bonds and relationships among your team members. You can use different activities to have fun and socialize, such as organizing team-building games, events, or outings, celebrating birthdays, holidays, or special occasions, or creating informal spaces or channels for chat or humor. You can also involve your team members in planning or choosing these activities, to ensure that they suit their interests and preferences.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?