This is the initial stage where everyone meets, and a group is about to form. In effect everyone is involved in what is known as “ritual sniffing”. There is anxiety to meet other people and deliver a good first impression and there is also a sense of uneasiness in the initial stage of forming a group. People often have concerns over the following:

• Is this group going to be successful?
• Will I fit in the group?
• Would others benefit from my existence?
• Are there any members than I do not like?
• What do we want to accomplish?
• How can I end up in a better/leader position?
• Can I easily quit if I did not like the group?
• Can I stay indefinitely if I liked the group?

Usually, most people are calm, collected and the atmosphere is polite. People are not completely sure of the task, so they are relatively open to ideas.