Optimizing Team Effectiveness and Performance by Using the Cycle of Team Development

Abstract

Drawing on his experience as an organizational consultant, the author presents a new model of team analysis and development for working with organizations. He describes the field of tension within which many organizations operate (e.g., product and service development must be done at high speed, the viability and life span of products and services is short, etc.) and some key theoretical developments from the science and study of organizations and the organizational field in transactional analysis. Drawing from authors such as Tuckman, Bion, and Belbin as well as several TA concepts, he describes the stages of human development as articulated by Levin and how these can be adapted as a useful tool focusing on the task of the group, the individual team member, and the requirement for leadership in the organizational setting. He provides a new TA model—the cycle of team development—which offers clear, concrete guidelines for organizations that are searching for new ways to increase team effectiveness. Brief case studies demonstrate the use of interventions at each stage.