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To the New Team:

You may be wondering why you don’t have more direction. It’s intentional.

The advantage of new teams is no history.

The advantage of being told what to do is safety. Freedom, on the other hand, makes the storming process more turbulent but the result is ownership.

You have the big picture and I trust you.

Your first few meetings include searching for clarity of roles, function, and identity.

Searching for clarity feels confusing and awkward.
Search for clarity with optimism.

Be realistic about your challenges without becoming pessimists. Don’t bury your head in the sand. If you do, you’ll fail. But…

Trust your ability to find answers.

Norming is the third stage of team formation:

1. Esprit de corps emerges. Respect and connection describe relationships. Norming results from working through storming. Allow time for bonds to form.
2. Shared goals create focus and guide decisions. It…