The first stage of group development is known as the forming stage — when the group is just starting to come together and is characterized by anxiety and uncertainty. Members are cautious with their behavior, driven by the desire to be accepted by all group members. Conflict, controversy, and personal opinions are avoided even though members are beginning to form impressions of each other and gain an understanding of what the group will do together. Some believe this cautious behavior prevents the group from getting real work done. However, the focus for group members during the forming stage is to become familiar with each other and their purpose, not on work. Typical outcomes of the forming stage include things like gaining an understanding of the group’s purpose, determining how the team will be organized and who will be responsible for what, discussing major milestones or phases of the group’s goal, outlining general group rules, and discovering what resources will be available for the group to use.

The second stage of group development is known as the storming stage — where conflict and competition are at their greatest. Once group members understand the task and have a general feel for who they are as a group and who group members are, they feel confident and begin to address some of the more important issues surrounding the group. Such issues can relate to things like the group’s tasks, individual roles, responsibilities, or even the group members themselves. More dominant group members emerge while other, less confrontational members stay in the comfort and security of suppressing their feelings just as they did in the previous stage. Even though these individuals stay quiet, issues may still exist. All members have an increased need for clarification. Questions surrounding leadership, authority, rules, responsibilities, structure, evaluation criteria, and reward systems tend to arise during the storming stage. Such questions must be answered so the group can move on to the next stage. Consequently, not all groups can move past the storming stage.

Once a group receives the clarity it desperately needs, it can move on to the third stage of group development, the norming stage — where the group becomes a cohesive unit. Morale is high as group members actively acknowledge the talents, skills, and experience that each member brings to the group. A sense of community is established, and the group remains focused on the group’s purpose and goal. Members are flexible, interdependent, and trust each other. Leadership is shared, and members are willing to adapt to the group's needs. Information flows seamlessly and is uninhibited due to members' sense of security in the norming stage.

At its peak, the group moves into the fourth stage of group development, known as the performing stage — group members are unified, loyal, and supportive. Competence in all members is seen, allowing for a high level of autonomy in decision-making. Problem-solving, experimentation, and testing possible solutions are high as group members are focused on task completion and achievement. The group's overall objective during the performing stage is to complete its mission.

For permanent workgroups, performing is the last stage in their development. However, there is an adjourning stage for temporary committees, teams, task forces, and similar groups that have a limited task to perform. Even the most successful groups, committees, and project teams disband sooner or later. Their breakup is called adjournment, which requires dissolving intense social relations and returning to new assignments. The adjournment stage is becoming even more frequent with the advent of flexible organizations, which feature temporary groups.