What is A Cog's Ladder? The Cog’s Ladder in A Nutshell

Cog’s ladder is a model of group development. The ladder was created in 1972 by Procter & Gamble employee George Charrier to help management at the company understand how teams worked to make them more efficient. Cog’s ladder is a model of group formation and behavior that is used to help businesses understand how a team can work to achieve its goals.

Phase	Description	Implications	Key Characteristics	Examples	Applications
1 – The Polite Phase	In this initial phase, team members are hesitant and anxious as they come together. They tend to be reserved, polite, and cautious about revealing personal information. Some may prefer to evaluate others’ personalities before becoming more open.	– Team members may hold back from expressing their true thoughts and feelings. – A focus on first impressions and not making mistakes. – Anxiety and nervousness can hinder open communication.	– Politeness and caution in interactions. – A desire to avoid conflict or controversy. – Limited personal sharing.	– A new project team assembles for the first time. – Team members are reserved and polite, avoiding potential conflicts. – An employee is introduced to a new department and is hesitant to share opinions.	– Encourage team members to express their initial thoughts and ideas, even if cautiously. – Facilitate ice-breaking activities and open discussions. – Recognize that initial politeness may hinder productive discussions.
2 – The “Why are we here?” Phase	During this phase, formal introductions occur, roles and responsibilities are assigned, and the team leader clarifies expectations and goals. Communication becomes more natural, and cliques may form as individuals become more comfortable.	– Improved communication and comfort among team members. – Role clarity and goal alignment. – Formation of informal groups with shared interests or skills.	– Formal introductions and role assignments. – Clarification of objectives and expectations. – Increasing comfort and openness in communication. – Emergence of informal groups or cliques.	– A newly formed project team holds a kickoff meeting with introductions and role assignments. – Department members begin discussing their shared project responsibilities. – A sports team’s players start to understand their respective roles.	– Establish clear roles and responsibilities for team members. – Foster an environment that encourages open communication and sharing of ideas. – Be aware of the emergence of informal groups and cliques and manage them positively.
3 – The Power Phase	In this phase, power struggles and dominance dynamics emerge. Dominant personalities may compete for authority and influence. Criticism, tension, resistance, and refutation become more common. It’s a crucial phase in establishing hierarchy.	– Increased conflict and power struggles. – Assertive individuals vying for influence. – Hierarchical development of the team.	– Emergence of power struggles and dominance contests. – Heightened conflict and criticism. – Assertion of ideas and strategies. – Team members decide whom to support.	– During project discussions, team members with dominant personalities compete for leadership roles. – A board of directors engages in debates about the direction of the company, with assertive members leading discussions. – A committee experiences tension as members assert opposing viewpoints.	– Allow power struggles to occur naturally, as they contribute to hierarchy development. – Provide a platform for assertive individuals to voice their ideas and strategies. – Mediate conflicts and encourage constructive criticism. – Assess team dynamics to identify emergent leaders.
4 – The Cooperation Phase	Once a natural hierarchy is established, cooperation between individuals grows. The focus shifts from individual concerns to group cohesiveness. Conflict becomes more constructive, and a friendlier atmosphere prevails.	– Improved cooperation and teamwork. – Focus on common goals and group cohesiveness. – Constructive conflict resolution.	– Shift from individual to group goals. – Enhanced teamwork and cooperation. – Friendlier and more constructive conflict resolution. – A sense of comradeship among team members.	– Team members actively collaborate on project tasks, supporting each other’s contributions. – A department identifies common objectives and aligns efforts to achieve them. – Cross-functional teams find constructive solutions to address challenges.	– Foster a sense of shared purpose and group identity among team members. – Encourage open dialogue and collaborative problem-solving. – Promote a positive and cooperative atmosphere. – Develop conflict resolution skills to maintain constructive discussions.
5 – The Esprit Phase	In this final phase, cliques formed earlier disappear as the group solidifies its collective identity. Strong informal relationships, trust, respect, and appreciation develop. Team members make a unified effort toward the goal.	– Strong trust and respect among team members. – Mutual appreciation and a sense of collective identity. – Unified and concerted effort toward goals.	– Disappearance of earlier cliques. – Strong informal relationships. – High levels of trust and mutual respect. – Unified and focused effort on shared objectives. – Reduced reliance on leadership for guidance.	– A long-established project team functions seamlessly with members trusting and respecting each other. – A company’s leadership team works closely, fostering mutual trust and shared vision. – A sports team achieves a high level of performance and camaraderie.	– Encourage and nurture trust-building activities among team members. – Reinforce a shared sense of purpose and commitment to common goals. – Empower team members to take ownership of tasks and decision-making. – Provide opportunities for self-management and reduced reliance on authoritative leadership.

Table of Contents

Understanding Cog’s ladder

Cog’s ladder is used by team leaders to provide direction and order in groups of people often characterized by personality clashes, disruptive behavior, and nervous individuals who are reluctant to contribute.

It is important to note that Charrier’s approach does not eliminate these negative aspects entirely. Instead, leaders use the ladder to help their teams reach the most productive state as quickly as possible.

The model is quite similar to Bruce Tuckman’s 1965 team development model, which posits that as a team becomes more mature and competent, relationships form between individual team members, and the leader alters their management style to suit.

The five phases of Cog’s ladder

Charrier found five phases described a group as it transitioned from the initial meeting to a high-performance team.

The five phases are as follows:

1 – The polite phase

When the team comes together for the first time, most individuals will be anxious and hesitant to reveal personal information about themselves.

Some do this because they are nervous, seek approval, or understand the importance of not making a bad first impression.

Some prefer to sit back, as it were, and evaluate the personalities of others to predict future team dynamics.

2 – The “Why are we here?” phase

In the second phase, formal introductions and acquaintances are made and the team leader clarifies what is expected of the group and how it will be achieved.

Roles and responsibilities are assigned and cliques may form as people with similar interests or skills coalesce. Communication becomes more natural as individuals become more comfortable with one another.

3 – The power phase

The third phase describes the inevitable power struggles that will develop in the group. Dominant personalities may compete for authority and influence as criticism, tension, resistance, and refutation becomes more common.

The team leader must let this occur with only limited intervention as it is a crucial phase in the team’s hierarchical development. Assertive individuals in the group will describe how they think the goal can be achieved, with non-assertive individuals then deciding who to support.

4 – The cooperation phase

Once a natural hierarchy has been established, increased cooperation between individuals builds momentum as each understands their role in helping the team reach its objectives. As a result, the focus shifts away from the individual and toward group cohesiveness.

Criticism becomes more constructive and a friendlier atmosphere develops as team members see others as their comrades. When conflict does arise, the group works to find a solution that is in the common interest.

5 – The esprit phase

In the esprit phase, cliques that were formed in the second phase disappear as the group solidifies its collective identity. Strong informal relationships develop between individuals, with mutual feelings of trust, respect, and appreciation.

With all individuals making a concerted and unified effort, significant process toward the goal is made.

Since this phase is associated with the highest level of team development, there is typically less reliance on instruction and task delegation from the team leader.

Instead, the leader should focus on maintaining efficiency to ensure the work is completed on time and budget without sacrificing quality.

Key takeaways

Cog’s ladder is a model of group formation and behavior that is used to help businesses understand how teams can work to achieve their goals. The ladder was created in 1972 by Procter & Gamble employee George Charrier.
Cog’s ladder provides direction and order in groups of people that are often characterized by personality clashes, disruptive behavior, and nervous individuals who are passive and avoid contribution. The ladder does not seek to eliminate these aspects. Rather, it is intended to help team leaders guide subordinates to an efficient state as quickly as possible.
Charrier explained Cog’s ladder in terms of five phases: the polite phase, the “Why are we here?” phase, the power phase, the cooperation phase, and the esprit phase.

Key Highlights

Creation and Purpose: Cog’s ladder is a model of group formation and behavior designed to aid businesses in understanding how teams can effectively work together to achieve their goals. The ladder was created in 1972 by George Charrier, an employee at Procter & Gamble, to help improve team efficiency and dynamics.
Leadership and Direction: Cog’s ladder assists team leaders in providing direction and structure to groups that may initially face challenges like personality clashes, disruptive behavior, and hesitant contributors. The model doesn’t aim to eliminate these challenges but rather guides leaders in facilitating efficient progress.
Similarities to Tuckman’s Model: Cog’s ladder shares similarities with Bruce Tuckman’s 1965 team development model. Both models acknowledge the progression of teams from initial stages to maturity, with evolving relationships among team members and corresponding adaptations in leadership styles.
Five Phases of Cog’s Ladder:
1. Polite Phase: During the initial phase, team members are cautious and reserved. Nervousness, seeking approval, and evaluating others’ personalities are common behaviors.
2. “Why Are We Here?” Phase: This phase involves formal introductions, clarifying group expectations, assigning roles, and forming alliances based on shared interests or skills. Communication becomes more natural as comfort increases.
3. Power Phase: Power struggles emerge as dominant personalities vie for influence. Conflict, criticism, and resistance are more frequent, as assertive individuals present ideas and non-assertive members decide whom to support.
4. Cooperation Phase: A natural hierarchy forms, leading to increased cooperation and momentum. Individual focus shifts to group cohesiveness. Conflict resolution becomes constructive, and a friendlier atmosphere develops.
5. Esprit Phase: Informal relationships strengthen, trust, respect, and appreciation grow. The group solidifies its identity, making a concerted effort toward the goal. The leader’s role shifts to maintaining efficiency.
Effective Team Development: Cog’s ladder aids in understanding the various stages teams go through as they evolve and mature. It offers insights into addressing challenges and guiding teams toward an optimal level of productivity.