During which development stage do teams begin to establish group norms?

Teams begin to establish group norms during the norming stage of development. In this phase, members start to build relationships with one another and develop a sense of collaboration. This is characterized by open communication, the resolution of conflicts, and the establishment of expectations on how team members should work together.

During norming, the team may create rules around decision-making, communication styles, and accountability, which contribute to building a cohesive unit. This stage allows members to feel more comfortable expressing their ideas and addressing any issues that arise, ultimately enhancing the team's productivity and effectiveness.

In contrast, the other stages, such as forming and performing, focus on initial introductions and high-performance tasks, respectively, without the establishment of these critical norms. Mourning, if present in any context of team dynamics, typically refers to the phase of loss or transition, which is not relevant to the formation of norms within a developing team. Thus, the norming stage is distinctly where the groundwork for group behavior and expectations is laid.