Stages of Team Development (continued)
Storming (the conflict stage)
The polite interactions of the orientation stage may soon be replaced by conflict. False conflicts occur when members misunderstand or misinterpret each others behaviors. Contingent conflicts develop over procedural or situational factors (such as meeting times, places, or formats). These two types of conflict are relatively easy to resolve, whereas escalating conflicts, a third variety, may cause more serious problems for the team. Escalating conflicts may begin as simple disagreements which then lead into the expression of more fundamental differences of opinion. Such conflicts may be characterized by venting personal hostilities and the expression of long suppressed emotions or ideas. Although conflict may damage or destroy a team, most researchers agree that conflict is a natural consequence of team membership, and that it may, in fact, strengthen the team as the members learn to accept and constructively resolve their differences.