People Skills: Optimizing Team Development and Performance

This is another in a series of articles about some of the most effective models, methods, and processes of organization development (OD), also known as change management, a discipline that offers much to professionals intent on solving real-world problems. Because it is based on a systemic view of organizations, OD includes the whole universe of fuzzy people issues that increasingly determine the success or failure of efforts to implement otherwise flawless technical solutions. This article examines the stages of group development, the role that conflict plays in the process, and the importance of conflict management in group development and team performance. It also provides ideas for developing high-performing teams based on the application of established change management principles and practices.