When people think of “teams,” it’s easy to assume that simply grouping individuals under the same division, project, or company banner makes them one. But titles alone don’t make a team. Roles don’t either. What does? The process of actually forming—consciously, deliberately, and with intent.
At Riverbend, we use the Tuckman model (Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing) to guide and grow high-performance teams in our programs and workshops. Whether it’s through an experiential learning program or applying shared strategies and lessons to everyday business interactions, we’ve seen time and again that great teams don’t emerge overnight. They are built through shared experiences, trust, clarity, and commitment.
So, what sets high-performing teams apart? Let’s explore this through two of our favorite examples—and what they have in common with the teams we help shape every day.
The Apollo 13 Mission Team
When crisis struck 200,000 miles from Earth, it wasn’t the job titles that saved the astronauts aboard Apollo 13—it was the trust, collaboration, and grit of a ground crew and flight team who had formed and normed long before disaster hit. They had stormed in simulators and normed through countless rehearsals. When the real test came, they didn’t flinch. They performed. They knew how to think as one.
The Boys of ’36 – University of Washington Rowing Team
Nine working-class young men from different walks of life came together to form something more powerful than themselves. The secret? They became a team. They didn’t start off perfectly in sync—they earned their rhythm, forged it through friction, competition, failure, and trust. They used their individual strengths and turned them into collective power. That unity became their edge. And in Berlin, with the world watching, they rowed to Olympic gold—not because they were the strongest, but because they were the most unified.
If you’re looking at your org chart and assuming you’ve got high-performance teams just because they meet regularly or share the same Slack channel—it may be time for a deeper look. Real teams are built, not assigned. They are forged through shared goals, mutual respect, and a willingness to form.
It’s time to move beyond the notion that departments equal teams. If you’re ready to explore the foundational stage of forming as a catalyst for true high performance, contact us to learn how we can support your team’s journey. Let’s build a stronger, more unified team—together.