Which stage is characterized by team members working collaboratively and effectively toward goals?

The stage characterized by team members working collaboratively and effectively toward goals is the performing stage. At this phase of team development, individuals have established a level of trust and respect for each other, which allows them to focus on achieving their objectives. The team is functioning at its highest capacity, demonstrating not only enhanced collaboration but also high levels of productivity and creativity.

During the performing stage, team members leverage their individual strengths and complement each other's skills, leading to better problem-solving and decision-making. The group has a clear understanding of its goals and responsibilities, and members are motivated and committed to their tasks. They communicate openly, resolve conflicts constructively, and are collectively focused on achieving shared results, making this stage highly effective for meeting objectives.

The other stages, such as storming and norming, involve challenges and the establishment of norms before reaching the high-performance level of the performing stage. Adjourning, on the other hand, pertains to the disbanding of the team after achieving its goals, which is not a stage of collaborative effectiveness in the same way. Thus, performing is the clear choice to describe a stage of effective collaboration towards goals.