Which leadership action best matches the Storming stage of team development?

• A. Forming — set clear goals.
• B. Storming — establish ground rules.
• C. Norming — build cohesion.
• D. Performing — empower and trust.

Answer: (B)

In the Storming stage, teams wrestle with roles, boundaries, and how decisions will be made, often amid conflict and testing of authority. The leadership action that fits this stage best is establishing ground rules. By laying out how team members will communicate, how decisions are reached, how disagreements are resolved, and what behaviors are expected, the leader creates a structure that channels conflict into productive collaboration. This helps everyone understand boundaries and processes, which reduces friction and moves the group toward alignment.

Ground rules are especially important here because Forming focuses on getting oriented and setting initial goals, Norming follows as cohesion and shared norms begin to take shape, and Performing comes when members are empowered and trusted to work autonomously.