Adjourning

Are high-performing groups hardest to leave?

            I think that high performing groups are among the hardest to leave because you have experienced great success as a member of that group. You would probably be fearful to move on and have to face less success or even failure.

Groups with the clearest established norms?

            Norms for a group are things like habits, rituals, expectations, accommodations, language, dress, style of communication. These things can create a type of security blanket or give the feeling of comfort and home. To leave these things behind is hard because new groups may, and likely do, have different norms.

Which of the groups that you participated in was hardest to leave? Why?

            The hardest group to leave was my 6th grade soccer team. Our team was still co-ed but I believe this was our last or second to last year for this. My dad was our coach and he drove my best friend and I. I think our team was extra close for a few reasons. We always had practice whereas most other teams played and practice only with good weather. Sprinkle or rain with no lighting meant we practiced on the field as normal. If the weather turned worse we would move inside for a modified practice. We went for pizza as a team quite a few times throughout the season and we always carpooled to games. We had a two middle schools in my school district growing up and my whole team was in one school, actually in only two classes. I think this added to our closeness and lengthened our friendships built during the season throughout the rest of the school year.

What sorts of closing rituals have you experienced or wish you had experienced?

            The closing ritual for my 6th grade soccer team was very special to me. We had pizza and cake at my house the Saturday after the last game. We played at my house for hours; trampoline, I think my promiscuous cat had just had kittens, and I remember playing hide & seek outside in the dark (long after the party should have ended). I think this gave us all closure and fond memories.

How do you imagine that you will adjourn from the group of colleagues you have formed while working on your master's degree in this program?

            I hope that when we adjourn from this group of colleagues that I am able to provide them encouragement towards their future endeavors. Through the discussions and this blog I have learned a great deal from my colleagues about their perspectives on issues so that I can understand those topics more holistically and also what they may gleam from resources that I have not. This group has been very supportive of my learning and encouraging me to continue trying my best.

Why is adjourning an essential stage of teamwork?

            Adjourning is essential because it gives individuals the chance to evaluate the events that have occurred, capture lessons learned, and evaluate how you have grown or changed (Abudi, 2010).

Resources:

Abudi, G. (2010). The five stages of team development: A case study. Retrieved from http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/the-five-stages-of-team-development-a-case-study.html