Team Tuesdays: Susan Wheelan — The Integrated Model of Group Development

Susan Wheelan’s Integrated Model of Group Development (IMGD) explains how teams mature over time. The key idea is simple: great teams aren’t created overnight — they develop through predictable stages.

• Stage 1: Dependency & Inclusion. Team members are figuring out where they fit, what is expected, and who is leading. People often look to the leader for direction and may hesitate to disagree.

• Stage 2: Counterdependency & Fight. As people become more comfortable, differences emerge. Team members challenge ideas, roles, processes, and sometimes the leader. Conflict isn't necessarily a sign of a bad team — it can be a necessary step toward becoming a better one if managed effectively.

• Stage 3: Trust & Structure. The team learns how to disagree productively. Trust increases, communication becomes more open, and members clarify roles, responsibilities, goals, and expectations.

• Stage 4: Work & Productivity. The team is operating at a high level. Members have greater autonomy, trust one another, communicate effectively, and focus their energy on accomplishing the mission.

For leaders, the lesson is powerful: Don't mistake conflict for failure. Your job isn't to eliminate every disagreement — it's to help the team move through disagreement toward trust, clarity, and shared ownership.

Great teams aren't teams without conflict. They're teams that know how to work through it. And if your team is storming, don't panic. You may not have a bad team — you may have a team that is becoming better and more connected — coach them through it. 

Something to Think About

Think about your team today: Which stage of group development do you believe your team is currently in, and what is one thing you can do as a leader to help your team move toward greater trust, clarity, and productivity?