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Help me prepare and run the exercise below. First ask for my participant count, time, setting, access needs and intended result. Check these against the stated limits. Use the supplied rules and materials. Explain any proposed changes before using them, and label them as adaptations. Do not invent source claims or require personal disclosure. Give me one step at a time when I say start. I manage the people, physical activity and clock; do not claim to observe the room. Ask me what happened before choosing a next step.

Reference revision: d61ccf21a1dec642f905102e74f82293eba936d4652592fae53cb654348b058d

# Stage Directions

Teams receive envelopes labeled with team development stages, brainstorm practical facilitation guidelines on index cards without looking at earlier responses, and pass the envelopes along. In the final round, each team inspects all cards collected for a stage and allocates 100 points across them to highlight the most effective advice.

**Time:** 25 minutes. Source specifies 20 to 45 minutes; 25 minutes allows briefing, three drafting rounds, scoring, and debrief.
**People:** 4 to 24. Four teams of approximately equal size arranged in a circle so envelopes can pass sequentially.

## Choose this exercise

**Purpose:** Compare and evaluate practical facilitation practices across the four stages of team development: Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing.
**Use it when:** Use in team leadership, facilitation, or management workshops when participants need concrete behavioral guidelines for supporting a team through changing developmental phases.
**Skip it when:** Skip when participants have no baseline understanding of small-group dynamics or when the room configuration prevents splitting into four working clusters.

## Materials and tools

- 4 large envelopes, pre-labeled individually: Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing
- 12 blank index cards (3 per team)
- 4 pens (1 per team)
- 4 printed copies of the Stages in Team Development handout
- 1 timer

## Before participants arrive

1. Label the 4 envelopes with one stage each: Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing.
2. Arrange room seating into 4 distinct team tables or clusters in a clear circular sequence.
3. Place 1 envelope, 3 blank index cards, 1 pen, and 1 handout at each cluster.

## Say this to open

Every team moves through distinct developmental phases, each requiring different facilitator responses. At your tables, you have an envelope marked with one stage. Your job is to draft practical guidelines for leading a group at that specific stage on an index card. Drop your card in the envelope without looking at previous entries, then pass the envelope to your neighbor when time is called. At the end, we will open them up and score the ideas.

## How to run it

### 1. Brief stages and organize teams (4 minutes)

Divide participants into four teams of approximately equal size (1 to 6 people each; distribute remainders across groups). Direct teams to review the Stages in Team Development handout. Deliver the opening script, verify understanding of the passing sequence, and invite each team to select internal roles.

### 2. Draft first guidelines card (3 minutes)

Start the timer for 3 minutes. Each team discusses the stage printed on their envelope and writes concrete facilitation guidelines on their first index card. When the timer sounds, direct teams to place the card inside the envelope, keep it unsealed, and pass the envelope clockwise without reading inside.

### 3. Draft second guidelines card (3 minutes)

Reset the timer for 3 minutes. Teams examine the new stage written on the envelope cover. Strictly instruct them not to look inside at the prior card. Teams write their best guidelines for this stage on a fresh index card, drop it inside, and pass the envelope clockwise on signal.

### 4. Draft third guidelines card (3 minutes)

Reset the timer for 3 minutes. Teams review the stage on their third envelope, still keeping the envelope contents private. Teams write guidelines on their third index card. When the timer sounds, they drop the card inside and pass the envelope clockwise one final time.

### 5. Evaluate cards and award 100 points (5 minutes)

Instruct teams to open their current envelope and pull out the three enclosed Directions Cards. Teams read all three cards, compare the recommendations, and divide exactly 100 points across the three cards based on clarity and practical value. Teams write the assigned score clearly on the corner of each card.

### 6. Report top recommendations (4 minutes)

Call on each of the four teams in order: Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing. A designated spokesperson reads the highest-scoring card aloud and explains in 30 seconds why those actions earned top points. Teams preferring not to speak aloud may submit their card to the facilitator to read.

### 7. Debrief common patterns (3 minutes)

Facilitate a brief plenary debrief on the contrasts across stages using the provided debrief prompts. Limit responses to 2 or 3 participant comments to keep within the allotted time.


## Debrief questions

- For which developmental stage was it hardest to define specific facilitation actions?
- What clear differences appeared between guidelines for Storming versus guidelines for Norming?
- Which single guideline read today will be easiest to apply directly in your current work?

**Finished output:** Four envelopes containing evaluated sets of concrete facilitation guidelines across all four team stages, scored by consensus.

## Remote

Create four breakout rooms named Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing. Set up a shared digital board (such as Miro or Mural) with four distinct frames, one per stage, each masked with an opaque cover shape. In each 3-minute round, teams rotate to their assigned frame, draft guidelines on sticky notes inside a private designated area, and leave previous rounds covered. In the evaluation round, each team uncovers the three submissions on their final stage frame, discusses them, and types their 100-point allocation beside each note.

## Hybrid

Maintain four mixed teams where remote members join in-person tables via a video call on a table tablet or laptop. Set up a shared digital whiteboard (such as Miro) with a frame for each team containing digital sticky notes. Remote and in-person members discuss guidelines together. Remote members type suggestions on the board while an in-person scribe writes the final agreed version onto the physical index card. During evaluation, the in-person scribe reads cards aloud or displays them to the camera, and all members vote to distribute the 100 points.

## Access and participation choices

- Provide large-print copies of the handout and blank index cards.
- Allow participants to choose roles within their team, such as reader, scribe, timekeeper, or spokesperson, ensuring no individual is required to speak aloud to the whole room.
- Teams where no member wishes to speak publicly may hand their top card to the facilitator to read.

## If the session gets stuck

**A team peeks at the existing cards inside the envelope before writing their own.**

Remind the room immediately that fresh, independent ideas produce better comparisons, and ask that team to turn the envelope face down while writing.

**A team splits the 100 evaluation points evenly (33/33/34), avoiding evaluation.**

Ask the team to make at least a modest distinction, such as 40/35/25, to show which concrete behavior stands out most.


## Terms used here

- Directions Card: An index card listing actionable behavioral guidelines for facilitating a specific team stage.
- 100-Point Allocation: A constant-sum scoring method where a team divides a fixed pool of 100 points among alternatives to indicate relative merit.

## Participant material: Stages in Team Development Handout

Stages in Team Development

Forming: The initial orientation stage. Team members are unsure of their roles, goals, and standing. They seek direction and clarity from the leader.

Storming: The conflict and differentiation stage. Team members attempt to organize, clarify influence, and negotiate differences. Disagreements and pushback surface.

Norming: The integration stage. Team members resolve conflicts, establish shared expectations, build mutual trust, and formalize work routines.

Performing: The autonomous production stage. The team functions smoothly toward its goals with open, two-way communication and collaborative problem-solving.

## Sources and adaptation

Observed in Thiagi GameLetter (October 2009), under the title 'Stage Directions' by Sivasailam (Thiagi) Thiagarajan.

Retained the core Stage Directions mechanic from Thiagi GameLetter (October 2009): four stage-labeled envelopes, blind drafting on index cards, passing envelopes in sequence, and final 100-point comparative scoring. UWT fixed the timing to a 25-minute run sheet, streamlined round counts to three drafting rounds so every team evaluates fresh cards, added concrete scripts, clarified role flexibility, and specified digital whiteboard tools for remote and hybrid delivery.

[The Thiagi Group](https://thiagi.net/archive/www/pfp/IE4H/october2009.html)

[The Thiagi Group](http://thiagi.net/archive/www/pfp/IE4H/october2009.html)

Current run sheet: https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/tgl-october-2009/