Which stage of team development focuses on establishing norms and roles among members?

The stage of team development that focuses on establishing norms and roles among members is indeed the norming stage. During this phase, team members begin to reconcile their differences and start to work together more effectively. They clarify their roles within the team and collaboratively establish norms, which are the unwritten rules and expectations for behavior, cooperation, and communication. This creates a sense of cohesion and helps to build trust among team members, allowing them to focus on collaborating towards shared goals.

The norming stage is crucial because it sets the foundation for high-performance teamwork. Once norms are established, team members feel empowered to express their ideas, take on responsibilities, and resolve conflicts positively. This contrasts with other stages; for instance, the storming stage is characterized by conflict and competition as team members vie for position and clarity of roles, while the performing stage implies the team is already working efficiently towards achieving their objectives. Adjourning refers to the disbanding of the team after achieving its goals. Thus, the norming stage is distinctly focused on establishing a cooperative framework that facilitates effective teamwork.