The five stages of team development include forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. The adjourning stage, in particular, involves terminating task behaviours and disengaging from relationships (5 stages of group development, n.d.). Group work that involves the most difficult adjournment include those of a personal nature where trust has been well established. I think that groups where a certain culture, mannerisms, and way of working together effectively and personably create greater apprehension in the termination of that group because it involves separating oneself from others who have become trustworthy and loyal individuals and includes giving up control and giving up inclusion in the group. Those who find termination of groups the most difficult are those who appreciate routine or who have developed close working relationships with other members, especially if their future seems uncertain (Forming, storming, norming, and performing: Understanding the stage of team formation, n.d.).
Having left personal relationships behind, moving to different countries, as well as experienced different group work in my educational as well as work life, I have been able to adjourn several group relationships. Because I separate myself, to a certain degree, from work relationships I leave these by saying farewells in a professional and courteous manner whilst providing others with the assurance that, if needed, I am contactable for future work related relations. On a personal level, ending group relationships with, for example, friends usually involve a large gathering and an open-ended farewell. This, however, can at times provide false hope for re-estbalished relationships that in the short term is beneficial but in the long term provides greater internal disharmony. Therefore, providing several points of contact but with a realistic mindset and a short termination process helps facilitate a simpler transition.
Adjourning from the group of colleagues I have formed whilst working on my master's degree will be a bittersweet process as I complete my course but understand that I bid farewell to several individuals that have helped me gain insight to what I have studied. It is important to celebrate out success and to positively wish each other the best of luck in one another's future endeavours (Abudi, 2010). Saying goodbye is an essential part of teamwork as it closes and summarizes the accomplishments made together and finalizes the success of one's goals without hesitation that a part of the group has been left unfinished.
Resources
Abudi, G. (2010). The five stages of team development: A case study. Project Smart. Retrieved from http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/the-five-stages-of-team-development-a-case-study.php
Forming, storming, norming, and performing: Understanding the stage of team formation. (n.d.). Mind Tools. Retrieved from http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_86.htm
5 stages of group development. (n.d.). Florida State University. Retrieved from http://med.fsu.edu/uploads/files/FacultyDevelopment_GroupDevelopment.pdf
Hi Nicole,
ReplyDeleteit's true that it is quite difficult leaving a group that trust has been established because it is not so easy building trust and who knows, one may not have such opportunities of building trust again. However, it is necessary we adjourn in order to share our insights and experiences with others. An aderge says twenty friends cannot move together for twenty years so 'seperation' is part of life. Nice post!
I can be hard to say goodbye to people that we have come to trust and rely on. As we grow and learn professionally we start to say goodbye to some co-workers and peers and it can sometimes be a relief to say goodbye and sometimes is can be hard.
ReplyDeleteHello Nicole,
ReplyDeleteI also believe that adjournment becomes hard when the group is in harmony with each other. It is actually hard to build trust in a group so when it happens the team members become like family. This makes it really hard to adjourn.
Hi Nicole ~
ReplyDeleteI would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for all the positive support and feedback you have given me throughout these eight weeks. I have learned so much from you and truly appreciate having you as a classmate. I wish you the best on your next endeavor!!
Ann Sheffield Seaton
Hello Nicole,
ReplyDeleteFor the past eight weeks as colleagues we have communicated, and collaborated via this on-line course in discussions and blog posts that has allowed us to learn various new insights on communication. So many of you have come with years of experience in the Early Childhood Field and a great deal of you has learned as I have from each other. The one thing that I have learned from communicating through the discussions and blog post is that we each have had the opportunity to voice our own opinions. I have learned that in order to become an effective communicator I must be an effective listener. I encourage each of you to remember the important facts, techniques, and stages that it takes to be an effective communicator. I have enjoyed communicating with each of you in this course and I hope that I will catch up with you before we complete the last three (3) required courses.
I will not be returning for the next class because I am expecting my first child in July. However, I will be back in September to continue my studies and I look forward to communicating with each of you at your pleasure via my Facebook account. Contact me on Facebook my name is Kiara Shanice Williams. I hope that each of you enjoy the rest of your summer and good luck in your future endeavors.