Why is team building an important tool for increasing business success?
Why is team building an important tool for increasing business success?
Team Development According to Bruce Tuckman Explained Using the 1938 Heckmair Route (First Ascent) Through the Eiger North Face
Choosing your team-building event shouldn’t be based solely on your ideas or budget. A look at Bruce Tuckman’s team development theory will help you select the right event with us for your team’s current phase. We offer the right program content for each stage of team development and are happy to support you in making your choice.
With the Eiger North Face right on our doorstep, we were inspired to create the following comparison to help you identify where your team currently stands and what kind of input it needs to become as successful as possible.
We’ve taken the liberty of merging Tuckman’s team development phases with our home mountain, illustrating just how challenging—but also how vital—the optimal development of your team is.
Team development is a continuous, long-term process that, when guided and supported, leads to greater (business) success.
1. Forming-Phase
Introduction: The members meet for the first time and get to know each other.
2. Storming-Phase
Difficult crack: The struggle for position and task begins. Tunnel opening: Part of the way has been covered, a steep section still lies ahead for your team.
3. Norming-Phase
Hinterstoisser Traverse: Team development doesn’t always follow a straight path. Challenges strengthen team spirit.
Second Ice Field: At times, the team faces a cold headwind — a difficult task lies ahead.
Ironing Board: Emotionally turbulent waves are smoothed out.
Death Bivouac: A strong team spirit helps overcome even extraordinary challenges.
Waterfall Chimney: A little “rain” doesn’t faze the team.
Traverse of the Gods: Rules and norms are consolidated. Collaboration flows mostly without friction.
4. Performing-Phase
Spider: The team is successfully interconnected.
Exit Cracks: Just before success, the team’s output is at its peak.
Summit: The team works intensively and successfully.
Events in the Forming Phase: Orientation Phase
An event during the forming phase gives your team the opportunity to get to know each other in a relaxed atmosphere, helping them to understand one another better right from the start. A suitable occasion would be one that allows plenty of time for conversation. We recommend a glacier or forest hike followed by an apéro and/or dinner at a restaurant or outdoors, a torchlight hike through the night, or a snowshoe hike through a snowy winter landscape.
Events during the Storming Phase: Conflict Phase.
In the storming phase, the focus of teambuilding is on resolving interpersonal issues that arose during the forming phase. The initial motivation boost has faded, and it’s now time for you, as the project leader, to present your team with new impulses and tools for nurturing interpersonal relationships. One way to achieve this is by encouraging your team to collaborate in a context away from day-to-day operations. During a team event, different personality traits become visible, making it easier to integrate them effectively.
For the storming phase, we recommend our teambuilding events: Alpine Games – Team Challenge, Eiger Kart Race, James Bond Film Crew Casting.
Events during the Norming Phase: Stabilization Phase.
In this phase, a team should primarily develop common ground and strength. Members should experience that they function as a team. They recognize that the abilities of each individual are needed to achieve the best possible performance as a team.
To explore new paths together and learn to believe in the strength of the team, we offer the following events: Building rope bridges, Building igloos, Creating snow sculptures.
Events during the Performing Phase: Performance Phase.
In the performance phase, your team has reached its performance peak, and it’s time to enjoy the team’s full potential. By jointly leaving the comfort zone, you can further increase the members’ confidence in their own abilities and in the strength of the team.
With our exclusive event in the Eiger North Face, you offer your team a top-class experience and show your appreciation for their work.
2. Storming-Phase
Difficult crack: The struggle for position and task begins. Tunnel opening: Part of the way has been covered, a steep section still lies ahead for your team.
3. Norming-Phase
Hinterstoisser Traverse: Team development is not always linear. Challenges strengthen team spirit.
Second Ice Field: Sometimes a chilly wind—a difficult task—blows in the team’s face.
Ironing Board: Emotionally challenging waves are smoothed out.
Death Bivouac: Positive team spirit overcomes even extraordinary challenges.
Waterfall Chimney: Even a bit of "rain" doesn’t bother the team.
Traverse of the Gods: Rules and norms are solidified. Cooperation runs mostly smoothly.
4. Performing-Phase
Spider: The team is successfully interconnected.
Exit Cracks: Shortly before success, the team’s output is at its highest.
Summit: The team works intensively and successfully.
Events in the Forming Phase: Orientation Phase
An event during the forming phase gives your team the opportunity to get to know each other in a relaxed atmosphere and thus understand each other better from the very beginning.
An ideal format is one that allows plenty of time for conversations.
We recommend a glacier or forest hike followed by an apéro and/or dinner in a restaurant or outdoors, a torch-lit night hike, or a snowshoe hike through the snowy winter landscape.
Events in the Storming Phase: Conflict Phase
In the storming phase, the focus of teambuilding lies in solving interpersonal challenges that arose during the initial getting-to-know-each-other in the forming phase. The initial motivational boost has faded, and as the project leader, it’s time to offer your team new impulses and tools to foster relationships.
This can be achieved by letting your team collaborate in a non-work-related context. During a teamevent, individual personalities become more visible and can be better integrated into the group.
In the storming phase, we recommend our teambuilding events:
Alpine Games – Team Challenge, Eiger Kart Race, James Bond Film Crew Casting.
Events in the norming phase: stabilization phase
In this phase, a team should primarily develop shared values and strength. Members should experience that they function as a team. They realize that each individual’s skills are essential to achieve the team’s best possible performance.
To explore new paths together and learn to believe in the team’s strength, we offer the following events:
Building rope bridges, building igloos, sculpting snow figures.
Events in the Performing Phase: Performance Phase
In the performance phase, your team has reached the peak of its potential, and it’s time to enjoy the team's capabilities.
By leaving the comfort zone together, you can further boost your members’ confidence in their own abilities and in the team’s strength.
With our exclusive event in the Eiger North Face, you provide your team with a top-class experience and express your gratitude for their dedicated work.
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If you'd like to plan an event for your company with us, please contact us for a free quote and let us advise you: info@outdoor.ch
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Sources:
Müller, Franziska (2020), The Development of Virtual Teams: Bruce Tuckman's Phase Model, 1st Edition