This week I learned about the five stages of team
development. These states include forming, storming, norming, performing and
adjourning (O’Hair & Wiemann, 2012). The final stage, adjourning, is when a
project or task has come to an end and the members reflect on their experiences
together. When I think about a time when I had to leave a group I think back to
when I was a summer camp counselor. I spent the entire summer living and
working with 25 other college students as we became very close. When our “mission”
came to an end it was a strange feeling having to say goodbye now that our goal
was accomplished. Before leaving camp, we hugged, prayed together and agreed to
stay in touch with each other and made plans to come back to visit
periodically. This group was especially hard to leave because we were
practically each other’s families since we lived away from our family and
college friends for 10 straight weeks.
I imagine the adjuring stage from this program will look
quite different than back when I left my role as a camp counselor. When we
finish with our master’s degree we will all feel relief, excitement and will
probably be proud of our accomplishments. I would like to share contact
information with my colleagues so we will be able to continue communicating
once the program is over. It’s always very helpful to have multiple contacts in
your field. Adjourning is an essential stage of teamwork. These closing rituals
are important for continued communication and support.
Resource
O'Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2012). Real communication. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.
Laura,
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful experience you must have had! You are so right about each adjourning will be different based on many things such as what the group was about, how they got along and what the outcomes were. I certainly imagine that throughout life there will be times when each of us hold on to memories and contacts from being on a team and some that we will gladly move on from. I wish you well in your goals.
Jenn Pore`
Hi Laura,
ReplyDeleteI agree many times groups can be like your family. Saying good-bye is difficult and after it is all over the feeling is quite strange as these people have played an important part of your life. No matter how long you have known them those relationships can impact you for a life time.. It is good to have some sort of good-bye ritual or celebration. Staying in touch is also good because in essence it is not good-bye, it is just later. Thanks for sharing.
Good morning,
ReplyDeleteAdjourning is so hard to do when you have had so much fun as a team and have to say good bye. I shared a similar experience in college with a group of wonderful people with Dance Marathon, a group that raises money for Children's Miracle Network. I agree that closing rituals and keeping contact information can help with adjourning. That way you can still contact people on the team when needed.
Thanks,
Tierra Jackson
Hi Laura,
ReplyDeleteI love your picture or Charley Brown, and your caption of "goodbye always make my throat hurt". Why does that happen? I feel the same way. Letting go is such a hard thing, especially when you know its something you have teamed up with, bonded and connected. I guess adjourning is a hard thing to do, especially when we know its letting go of something good.
-Talisha Ghansiam
ReplyDeleteLaura,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your experience with us! We don't really realize how attached we become to people until we have to leave them! I can imagine how hard it was to leave a group of children that you spent your entire summer with! Not only did you make an impact on their lives, but they in some way made an impact on yours as well. Adjourning is a very hard thing to do, I cry every time I see my kids graduate from Pre-K, we really do become like a family! Great post!
Eboni
Great post Laura,
ReplyDeleteThe adjourning stage is a very important stage and can be the difficult stage for many to go through because this is basically the farewell stage. At this stage, group members may feel a sense of loss because they may never get to see or work with each other again. It is very important to recognize group members for their hard work and dedication once they have accomplished their goals.
Laura,
ReplyDeleteYou came experience sounds similar to mine. Our camp last ten weeks but had a week of training before we began and ended with a four day packing-up session. It does feel like you lose a family member. Sounds like a wonderful experience.
Megan
Laura,
ReplyDeleteWhat a great insightful post. I didn't think about in the too distant past but as I did I realized I was part of many adjourning rituals of teams. It is hard to normalize after a group experience that was so positive. I think in relation to our work here the networking aspect of our field might cross our paths again someday.
Catherine