Nudge Is this famous team-building model wrong?
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Sep 22, 2025 Colin Fisher, an Associate Professor at UCL School of Management and author of The Collective Edge, critiques the classic team-building framework by Tuckman. He argues that success often creates team cohesion faster than trust-building exercises. Colin discusses how norms can quickly form and influence performance, substantiated by notable studies. He also highlights the importance of social sensitivity and its correlation with collective intelligence, emphasizing that designing motivating work environments is essential for team success.
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Tuckman Model Is Contextual, Not Universal
- Bruce Tuckman's forming–storming–norming–performing model arose from specific training groups and doesn't generalize to most real teams.
Norms Emerge Fast And Stay Sticky
- Norms form almost instantly in groups and then persist until a midpoint prompts change.
Success Drives Cohesion, Not Vice Versa
- Perceived success creates cohesion and positive attributions, not the reverse.
