What is a Tuckman Ladder (Team Development Stages)?
Tuckman's model says teams develop through five stages: forming (polite, uncertain, leader-dependent), storming (conflict as working styles collide), norming (trust and shared habits emerge), performing (autonomous, high-output), and adjourning (completion and release).
Two facts the exam loves: storming is normal and necessary — a leader who suppresses it just delays it; and teams can slide backward when membership changes. Your leadership style should shift with the stage: directive early, coaching through storming, delegating at performing.
Worked example
A new platform team spends two weeks being wonderfully agreeable (forming), then erupts over code-review standards (storming). The tech lead doesn't shut the argument down — she facilitates it into a written working agreement (norming). A quarter later the team ships without her in the room (performing). Then the new hire joins, and they storm again — briefly.