Apply Team Development Model to Agile Team (Agile Leader’s Toolbox)

The stages of the team development model, commonly known as #Tuckman's model, describe the various phases that a team typically goes through as they form, develop, and ultimately become an #effective and #highperforming unit. The model consists of four main stages: forming, storming, norming, and performing. Applying the team development model to an Agile team involves understanding the unique characteristics and principles of Agile methodologies, such as Scrum or Kanban, and aligning them with each stage of team development.

Here's how you can apply the team development model to an Agile team, along with the manager's role in each stage:

Forming:

Agile Context: In the forming stage, the Agile team comes together, including the Product Owner, Scrum Master (or Agile Coach), and development team members. They establish a #sharedunderstanding of the Agile framework and their roles within it.

Leader’s Role: The leader, often acting as the Scrum Master, Agile Coach, or in some cases, line manager, plays a key role in providing #guidance on Agile principles, facilitating team introductions, and clarifying the team's #purpose and goals. They help establish the #foundation for collaboration, set expectations, and promote a positive team culture.

Storming:

Agile Context: During the storming stage, team members may encounter #challenges in adapting to Agile practices, facing resistance to change, or encountering conflicts within the team or with external stakeholders.

Leader’s Role: The leader supports the team in navigating through conflicts, facilitates #open and #respectful communication, and fosters an environment where challenges and concerns can be addressed constructively. They may facilitate workshops or retrospective meetings to encourage #collaboration, identify and address impediments, and promote a sense of #sharedownership.

Norming:

Agile Context: In the norming stage, the Agile team begins to establish a shared understanding of Agile values, principles, and practices. They develop a #rhythm of regular ceremonies, such as daily stand-ups, sprint planning, sprint reviews, and retrospectives.

Leader’s Role: The leader continues to support the team by #reinforcing Agile practices, ensuring that Agile ceremonies are effective and efficient, and helping the team establish its own norms and ways of working. They provide #coaching and #mentorship to team members, promote collaboration and knowledge sharing, and facilitate #continuousimprovement.

Performing:

Agile Context: At the performing stage, the Agile team operates as a #selforganizing unit, delivering value iteratively and incrementally. They embrace Agile principles and practices, continuously improve their processes, and focus on delivering high-quality outcomes.

Leader’s Role: In this stage, the manager transitions into a #servantleadership role, supporting the team's autonomy and self-organization. They remove any organizational impediments that hinder the team's progress, provide #resources and #support, and foster an environment of trust, transparency, and continuous learning. The manager encourages the team to reflect on their performance, #celebratesuccesses, and identify opportunities for growth.

In Summary

Throughout the Agile team's journey, the leader acts as a #facilitator, #coach, and #enabler, ensuring that the team has the necessary support, resources, and guidance to succeed. They also play a crucial role in creating an Agile-friendly organizational culture, promoting Agile adoption beyond the team level, and fostering collaboration and alignment with other stakeholders.

It's also important to note that Agile teams are typically cross-functional and collaborative, and the emphasis is on #collectiveresponsibility rather than individual roles. The organization leaders’ role is to empower the team, enable their self-organization, and create an environment where Agile #values and #practices can flourish.

#AgileLeadership #TeamDevelopmentModel #HighPerformingTeams