What are the most common challenges teams face in the forming stage?

2 Unclear goals and expectations

Another challenge teams face in the forming stage is the unclear or conflicting goals and expectations of the team and its stakeholders. Without a clear vision and direction, teams may struggle to align their efforts, prioritize their tasks, and measure their progress. Moreover, unclear expectations may lead to confusion, frustration, and dissatisfaction among team members and stakeholders. To overcome this challenge, you can try to define and communicate the team's purpose, scope, and deliverables. You can also involve team members and stakeholders in setting SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) goals and clarifying roles and responsibilities.

3 Low engagement and motivation

A third challenge teams face in the forming stage is the low engagement and motivation of team members. Engagement and motivation are essential for team productivity, creativity, and innovation. However, in the forming stage, team members may feel uncertain, anxious, or indifferent about the team and its work. They may also lack the sense of belonging and ownership that drives them to contribute and excel. To overcome this challenge, you can try to create a positive and supportive team culture that values diversity, inclusion, and feedback. You can also recognize and reward team members for their efforts and achievements and provide them with opportunities for learning and growth.

4 Conflicting styles and personalities

A fourth challenge teams face in the forming stage is the conflicting styles and personalities of team members. Teams are composed of individuals with different preferences, perspectives, and behaviors. These differences can be a source of strength and creativity, but they can also cause clashes and misunderstandings. In the forming stage, team members may not have enough awareness and appreciation of each other's styles and personalities. They may also have difficulty adapting and adjusting to each other's ways of working. To overcome this challenge, you can try to use personality assessments or team building activities to help team members discover and respect each other's strengths and weaknesses. You can also establish norms and rules for communication, decision making, and conflict resolution.

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?