He glares at Jesse. Norming Stage: The HR manager and VP hold a short meeting after the second Saturday practice. They now have recruited a few more players and there is a sense that the team will actually come together and players will not pick on one another. This practice is much smoother. Pam and Larry had a lunch date in the week between practices and she graciously asked Larry to lighten up on Jesse. "It's sad to see a guy who is already down, shoved down further," Pam told Larry. "We need him on the team, Larry; he's a good guy," Pam added. Larry agreed, and made another date with Pam for the Saturday night following their first game. After practice, the HR manager and VP order pizzas for a little post-practice social gathering, and it's all smiles.

Performing Stage: The first softball game is against the company Larry used to work for, and Larry hits a home run to win the game in the bottom of the 7th, 14-12. Because they practiced together in a far more cooperative mode their second and third practices, they were ready to embrace teamwork. Captain Larry, now dating Pam, has taken Pam's advice and had all the players play at each of the 9 positions, including...

In their last practice, with each new batter stepping up to the plate, the players in the field all shifted over one position (i.e., right fielder moves to center field; center fielder moves to left; left fielder come in to catch, etc. etc.). The key factor in terms of the move to Performing is leadership from Larry, who has been greatly influenced by his attraction to Pam and her gentle prodding to be more cooperative. Inspired by practice sessions in which players tried all 9 positions, the HR manager has instituted a once-a-month trial experience during which time company employees shift to other assignments within the company, for one day. It has worked out beautifully.
Works Cited

Case Western Reserve University. (2011). Bruce W. Tuckman's Four States of Group

Development. Retrieved December 29, 2011, from http://www.studentaffairs.case.edu/activities/resources/advisor/development.html.

Stein, Judith. (2008). Working on Teams: Using the Stages of Team Development.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Retrieved December 29, 2011, from http://web.mit.edu/hr/oed/learn/teams/art_stages.html.