In which stage should leaders encourage positive behaviors and discourage negative behaviors?

In the context of group development stages, the storming phase is where conflicts and disagreements often arise as team members begin to assert their individual opinions and establish their roles within the team. During this stage, it becomes crucial for leaders to actively encourage positive behaviors, such as collaboration, open communication, and conflict resolution, to help the team navigate through these challenges.

Leaders need to recognize and reinforce behaviors that contribute to group cohesion and productivity while addressing and discouraging negative behaviors, such as avoidance, hostility, or a lack of cooperation. By setting a clear expectation for team dynamics and facilitating discussions to promote a healthy team environment, leaders play a pivotal role in guiding the team towards forming a more constructive and collaborative atmosphere as they move into the next stages of team development.

The other stages, while also important, do not require the same level of intervention focused specifically on managing conflicts and behaviors, which is why the storming phase is particularly critical for this kind of leadership engagement.