Why Top Gun: Maverick Is an Ideal Example of Team Development
Tuckman’s Five Stages of Team Development Explained Through Top Gun: Maverick
Why Top Gun: Maverick Is an Ideal Example of Team Development
Bruce Tuckman’s five stages of team development—Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing and Adjourning—are widely taught in leadership, management and organisational behaviour courses. While the model is often explained using workplace scenarios, popular films can provide powerful and memorable illustrations of how teams develop over time.
One outstanding example is the 2022 blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick, starring Tom Cruise. Beyond its spectacular aerial sequences, the film offers a compelling study of teamwork, leadership, conflict, trust and performance under pressure. Maverick’s role as an instructor leading an elite group of Navy pilots closely mirrors the dynamics seen in real-world teams across organisations, sport and the military.
This article explores how each ofTuckman’s five stages of team developmentis clearly demonstrated in Top Gun: Maverick, using specific scenes and character interactions to bring the theory to life.
So, spoiler alert! This post gives away the plot of the movie, so do make sure you watch the film first if you don’t want to know the details beforehand!
Psychologist Bruce Tuckman introduced his team development model in 1965. The model explains how teams evolve as they work towards a shared goal. According to Tuckman, teams typically move through five distinct stages:
Forming – Team members come together and seek direction
Storming – Conflict, competition and resistance emerge
Norming – Trust, cohesion and collaboration develop
Performing – The team operates at peak effectiveness
Adjourning – The team disbands after achieving its objective
The 5 Stages of Team Development
Top Gun: Maverick provides clear, practical examples of each stage, making it an excellent case study for leadership and teamwork.
The forming stage begins when a select group of elite fighter pilots is brought together to train for a highly dangerous, top-secret mission. Although each pilot is exceptionally skilled, they are unfamiliar with one another as a team and unclear about how the mission will be executed.
Maverick’s arrival as the instructor creates additional uncertainty. Some pilots are impressed by his legendary status, while others question his authority and relevance. At this stage, the group looks to Maverick for guidance, structure and clarity.
Key scene:
Maverick’s first mission briefing he outlines the extreme demands of the task and sets clear expectations for the team. This helps to move the team beyond the first stage of development.
Stage 2: Storming – Conflict and Power Struggles
Key characteristics of the storming stage:
Ego clashes and competition
Resistance to leadership
Emotional tension
Challenges to rules and processes
How it appears in Top Gun: Maverick:
The storming stage is particularly evident in the film. The pilots are highly confident and competitive, which quickly leads to friction.
Key sources of conflict include:
Rooster’s resentment towards Maverick, linked to the death of his father, Goose
Hangman’s self-centred approach, which repeatedly puts the team at risk
Open questioning of Maverick’s unconventional training methods (but just about everyone!)
This stage highlights a common issue in high-performance teams: strong individuals often struggle to work collaboratively before trust is established.
Key scene:
Early training exercises where pilots argue over tactical decisions, and Hangman prioritises personal success over team safety.
Stage 3: Norming – Developing Trust and Cohesion
Key characteristics of the norming stage:
Improved communication
Growing trust and mutual respect
Acceptance of leadership
Clearly defined roles
How it appears in Top Gun: Maverick:
A major turning point occurs when – on the verge of losing his leadership position – Maverick flies the mission profile himself, proving that the seemingly impossible task can be completed. This risky action pays off as it earns the pilots’ respect and reinforces his credibility as a leader. His chain of command also has to grudgingly admit what is possible.
As training progresses:
The pilots begin supporting one another rather than competing
Rooster starts to understand Maverick’s protective motivations
The team embraces shared responsibility for success
The focus shifts from individual achievement to collective performance.
Key scene:
Later training sessions where the pilots demonstrate cooperation, adaptability and mutual trust.
Stage 4: Performing – High-Level Team Performance
Key characteristics of the performing stage:
Strong trust and confidence
Effective collaboration
Flexibility under pressure
A clear focus on shared objectives
How it appears in Top Gun: Maverick:
The performing stage is fully realised during the final mission. The team executes the plan under extreme pressure, adapting quickly to unforeseen challenges.
The adjourning stage reinforces the idea that effective teams are often short-lived but highly impactful. As in real life, it is sad when the team separates, but there is also a feeling of closure, knowing that individuals are moving on to new things, better equipped for the future, having been through the experience.
Key scene:
The closing hangar and flight scenes, where Maverick reflects on the journey and looks ahead.
Why Top Gun: Maverick Is an Effective Leadership Case Study
Top Gun: Maverick demonstrates that team development is rarely smooth or straightforward, particularly in high-pressure environments. Conflict is not a sign of failure but a necessary step towards trust and high performance.
For students, managers and leaders, the film highlights key lessons:
Credibility and empathy are essential to effective leadership
Conflict must be managed constructively
Trust is earned through action
High performance depends on shared commitment
Tuckman’s five stages of team development are clearly illustrated throughout Top Gun: Maverick, making the film a valuable and engaging resource for understanding teamwork in practice. From forming and storming to performing and adjourning, the pilots’ journey reflects team dynamics commonly found in organisations and leadership contexts.
Whether used in an academic setting or a professional training environment, Top Gun: Maverick shows that successful teams are developed through leadership and challenge, which then engender trust and collaboration. Simply put, high performance does not come about by chance!
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