Storming – Stormy Times in the 2nd Phase of (virtual) Group Development

Quite a while ago, at the beginning of April, we launched our new blog series on the topic of “The 5 Phases of (virtual) Group Development” beginning with phase 1 – the Forming. Today, we continue dynamically with phase two, the Storming. Right, it’s going to get stormy.

Remember, that during the Forming phase, your group was heavily dependent on appropriate leadership. The Storming phase, on the contrary, is mainly about your participants regaining their individuality and autonomy.

Specifically, this means that, following the very first phase of getting to know each other, and the first feeling of team spirit with the person in the next chair (or the other faces on the screen), individual needs move back into the foreground again.

Your participants find their role in the group – voluntarily or involuntarily. They have to balance their perspective, their interests, with those of the group.

Individuality vs. fellowship

The event begins and, again, the primary question is “Why am I even here?“. Now’s the time to concentrate and take home what I want; now the focus is on ME.

In this phase, negative reactions to the trainer/moderator are common, as are position battles.

Everybody tries to find their place in the group. Unconsciously, your participants are asking themselves this:

• Am I the one who makes comments, asks questions, and picks holes in the trainer’s assertions?
• Or would I rather remain in the background, and does the guy who constantly interrupts get on my nerves?
• What’s my position in the group fabric?
• What role do I assume?

In further consequence, in the Norming phase that follows, clarity about the positions/ranks in the groups emerges (everything, of course, at a very subtle, unconscious level.) A first scramble for this, however, already takes place in the Storming phase.

We encourage you to read more about this in one of the older blog articles on the topic of rank dynamics and find out what the various positions (such as alpha, beta, gamma and omega) in groups mean.

Captain in the storm

By stepping into a new phase in group development, the methods you apply will also need to be right for the changed requirements.

Here, too, we strongly advise taking the time, first of all, to address the emerging group dynamic adequately and to “play on it.” The time you invest now will save you time later i.e. unproductive conflicts that result because doubts and fears were not taken seriously or adequately addressed.

As a moderator/trainer it can happen that you have to act as a mediator, especially if the event goals are in jeopardy.

In this phase, it’s essential to allow EVERYONE to get a word in. In small groups (use the Break Out Rooms function for this) also shy participants have an opportunity to speak and make a contribution. When everyone is together, address your participants individually to involve them.

Further tips & methods for the Storming phase

Suitable methods for the Storming phase are, for example, the Headstand or the Dreams & Nightmares method. Here’s a report on how the headstand method was used in practice.

We’ve described both methods in several, earlier blog articles (see the links above.) These can be excellently applied in a virtual setting. Take a look at the picture below to see for yourself. We once again used our favourite tool, PADLET.

By the way, not every group goes through the Storming phase. If your participants already know each other well, and have already worked together often, this phase may be skipped as the group has already undergone it, and the positions/ranks are already clearly established.

But a short Storming phase may still happen in spite of clearly defined positions, e.g. if expertise is re-distributed at the specific event or new people have come on board.

The most important thing for you, the trainer/moderator, is: after you’ve learnt the positions, don’t pigeonhole your participants! Work with their strengths!

We’re looking forward to hearing about your experiences with the Storming phase and further ideas for methods – share your comments with us!

Best wishes,
Your BusinessMind team