40 years of storming: a historical review of Tuckman’s model of small group development

After reading about Tuckman’s model, I immediately saw a strong connection to my own experience. As part of my Parks and Recreation degree, I am also minoring in Outdoor Leadership, where we study Tuckman’s model as a key framework for understanding team development. Just this past week we learned about Tuckman’s model and how each team goes through the stages of forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. It really stood out to me because I’ve seen these stages play out firsthand during group projects and outdoor leadership exercises, especially how initial tension and conflict (storming) can eventually lead to stronger trust and cooperation (norming and performing) once everyone learns to work together.

This text made me think about the NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) books about outdoor leadership and how they discuss the same teamwork and development. They emphasize how groups naturally progress through stages of building trust, managing conflict, and establishing roles, just like Tuckman’s model outlines. Reading about Tuckman’s work helped me connect what I’ve been learning from NOLS to a broader theory, showing how these group dynamics apply not just in outdoor settings but in any team environment.

This model has stood the test of time and is still being used to this day in formal organizations and outdoor recreation settings. In today’s world, many companies and leadership programs continue to rely on Tuckman’s model to guide team building and collaboration. For example, corporate workplaces use it to improve group dynamics during training sessions, while outdoor programs like NOLS use it to help student groups work through challenges and develop strong, cohesive teams in high-stress environments.

Bonebright, D. A. (2010). 40 years of storming: A historical review of Tuckman’s model of small group development. Human Resource Development International, 13(1), 111–120