Project Life Cycle - Team Building & Leadership Styles

Project Managers should be aware of typical team building dynamics and situational leadership style across a project life cycle.

Team Building: Forming => Storming => Norming => Performing => Adjourning
Leadership Style: Directing   =>   Coaching   =>   Facilitating   =>   Supporting
                             |----------------------------------------------------------------------->  Time
                           Initiating               Project Life Cycle               Closing

Team Building Stages

• Forming: Creating the team
• Storming: Team chaos as people start working with one another
• Norming: Team behavior starts to normalize
• Performing: Team performs as a unit
• Adjourning: Team completes work and disbands

Situational Leadership Styles

• Directing: Provide specific, clear instructions and closely supervise
• Coaching: Solicit input, offer rationale and examples
• Facilitating: Maintain team progress; delegate day-to-day control
• Supporting: Support and motivate the team to complete objectives