Which term best describes a team working before they have established trust?

• A. Storming
• B. Norming
• C. Forming
• D. Performing

Answer: (C)

The term that best describes a team working before they have established trust is "forming." During the forming stage of team development, team members come together and start to understand each other's roles, but they have not yet built the trust and relationships necessary for effective collaboration. This stage is often characterized by uncertainty and dependency on the leader for guidance and direction.

In this initial phase, team dynamics are largely superficial as members are polite and focus on getting to know one another. As trust develops in subsequent stages, teams transition through norming and storming stages before reaching the performing stage, where they can effectively collaborate and function at high levels. The forming stage is critical because it sets the foundation for the team's future dynamics and effectiveness.