This week we studied the five stage of team
development: forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning (Abudi,
2010). In considering the adjourning
phase there are many aspects of group collaboration that make it difficult to
say good-bye. I would have to say that out
of the groups I have been involved in that high-functioning and high-performing
groups are harder to say good-bye to than low-performing groups. When relationships are formed and we learn to
rely on others to complete certain tasks, this can often make it harder to end
the relationships.
As a director and trainer in a large company, I am
often selected to be part of planning committees for professional development
days for our employees. This would be
considered the ‘forming’ stage. I find
these planning committees to be very rewarding.
As the ‘storming’ stage begins, we create a vision for the day’s
training and brainstorm topic ideas.
Once topics are decided upon, we make commitments to ensure a successful
day by assigning specific roles. Throughout
the process relationships and trust is built and the ‘norming’ stage is
underway. Once we are all working on
attaining the same goal and commitments are made, we begin ‘performing’ stage
and function at high levels in order to get the training day planned
successfully. The last stage of team
development, the ‘adjourning’ stage, can again be the most difficult. After experiencing the growth of a team, forming
bonds, and working toward similar goals, it is difficult to say good-bye and
watch things come to an end. While I
feel success from working together effectively I also feel sadness that our
journey together has ended.
I have experience a multitude of closing rituals. Some of which are basic and others are more
in depth. A few examples are saying
good-byes and thank you in person, having a celebration dinner following the
completed task, and follow up meeting to discuss the results of the training
day.
Working with my colleagues through my master’s
experience has been very rewarding. I
have felt support by many and bods have been created. When the adjourning stage comes for us there
are a select few friends that I would like to keep in contact with. These are friends who I have asked for
support from and they have reciprocated.
We have been encouraging to each other and celebrate our successes. It will be a void in my life to not have
daily communication and interactions with them.
I appreciate the adjourning ritual that Walden has put into place at the
end of each course. We always have the
opportunity to express our gratitude to our colleagues and wish them luck in their
future endeavors. I think this is an
essential stage of teamwork so that others know how important their involvement
was to the success of the team. Each of us is a piece of a puzzle and together
we form a completed project.
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