Team Dynamics: Stay the Course or Make a Change?

With any team, basic group dynamics apply. There are about four stages: forming, storming, norming, and performing. The forming stage is basically like a honeymoon or the getting-to-know-you phase in most relationships where you are trying to impress and define roles. The storming phase is, as you can see by the name, where members' true colors shine through as they grapple with impatience with progress, attitude shifts, and establishing roles. In this stage, not much growth is happening and some groups split, but it is when people are getting real, finding their place on the team. To get through this stage is to get to the real work of success, the norming phase, to find a clear sense of purpose, confidence, team support. Ultimately the team will get to performing: the group is working as one accepting strengths and weaknesses of individuals while being proactive and contributing to get real results.

The basics of group dynamics assumes that the group must stay together to get to the performing stage. I imagine that any member who splits at the storming stage may never know the potential benefits of staying together. On the other hand, if people are getting real at the storming stage and conflicts ensue, it seems like the smart time to move on -- especially if we are talking about temperament, which doesn't really change. This is the dilemma of playing team sports: should one stay the course or make a change?

If the principles of group dynamics are valid, it seems best to work through the storming stage much like one would do in a marriage. (Is that taking it too far?) Inevitably, the ground rules will be established in the norming phase making it easier to work together. However, I think there is a sense of urgency sometimes with sports; let's call it panic. There is this panic that comes with losing in sports that makes some athletes look at their team and wonder, "Do I fit in here? Is this the best place for me to be? Can I win here?" I think the questions here are valid, especially when facing another potential loss. Losing is painful! I think everyone who has been on a team asks those questions at some point -- as they should. However, I don't think everyone considers what may be on the other side of the storm: will it be success or...another storm?

In beach volleyball, you will find partnerships that change week-to-week never to see the storm, and other partnerships that try to stick it out. I began this season in early March and found a partner with the same goals. Both of us were rookies on the pro circuit and knew it would be a learning experience. We experienced a little storm in April and came through better winning some tournaments and learning a lot about the game and ourselves. We stayed the course and came out better for it!

However, there was another storm(i.e. a series of losses). Yes, more storms develop as your objectives evolve. This time, we did not survive. I was not so sure that staying the course was the most healthy way to go given our different response to the losses. We both agreed it was time to make a change to see if another partner can help us develop the mental part of our game (i.e. win). Back to the forming stage...


Peace,
Sarah