Which of these is NOT one of the 5 stages of Team Development?

• A. Termination
• B. Forming
• C. Storming
• D. Lightning

Answer: (D)

Team development follows a recognizable sequence describing how a group becomes cohesive and productive. The five stages are forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning (with some sources wording the last as termination). Each stage represents a move in how team members relate, set norms, and work together toward goals. Lightning doesn’t fit this framework at all; it isn’t associated with any phase of team dynamics. The other terms map directly to actual phases: forming is when the group comes together, storming covers conflicts and testing roles, norming establishes shared norms, performing reflects high-functioning collaboration, and adjourning/termination marks the end of the team’s work.