The closing final stage of groups can be great or not so great. Depending on who was in the group or why the group ended may determine how hard or easy it will be to say good-bye. I have been involved in various groups where I have had to say good-bye. I do think that high performing groups are hard to leave because these groups have accomplished great things together. Sometimes in high performing groups you may not want to experience any other groups for fear of low performance in another group.One of the hardest groups for me to leave was my high school track team. I was a member of the winter and spring track teams since I was a freshman. I got very close to my teammates over four years. We trained together, cried together, lost together, won together, had lunch and dinners together and much more. To make parting easier we had a senior banquet where each senior received their final varsity letters, pins, certificates. We also shared our accomplishments over the past four years. It was a great way to end the year and say good-bye to everyone before we all went off to college.
I think I adjourning from the groups of colleagues I have formed while working on my master's degree in this program will be bitter sweet. I have learned so much from my colleagues and I will miss interacting with them in the classroom; however I know that I can still keep in touch with them after the program. I will make sure to share my email and any other contact information so that I can continue to share and learn with my colleagues. Adjourning is an essential stage of teamwork because it is a time to reflect on accomplishments and failures (O'Hair & Weimann, 2012, pp. 257). Without adjourning there will be no closure and future groups will not know where they can improve if working on a future project.
References
O'Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2012). Real
communication: An introduction. New York:Bedford/St.
Martin's.
Dorcas,
ReplyDeleteAs usual I enjoyed your well written blog post. I have the same sentiment for my undergraduate graduating class (under my major). It was heart wrenching, but the journey was well layed and I take with me many life lessons.
Hi Dorcas,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your experience with your track team. What a great way to be successful and building important relationships. High school can be difficult, but with the right group you have positive support to achieve your goals. It is hard to move on; however, it can be amazing to reflect and use what you learned in future endeavors. My interactions with my fellow Walden students has been very enlightening and has given me so many resources. Thanks! Cindy Rube
I never looked at the "other side" of adjourning until I read the first sentence of your post. You are so right..sometimes it can be great to adjourn. I have had groups that I was so ready to leave. They didn't work so well and I was READY!! As far as my Walden friends, we can email and stay in contact with and you're right it will be bitter sweet! Best wishes.
ReplyDeleteThanks for giving me the opportunity to look at things from a different light. Your blogs are always so interesting and I always enjoyed the pictures that you added each week. It inspired me to do it as well. Thanks for your feedback you gave me also. Best wishes as you continue on your journey.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your personal and professional contributions to this class. In the beginning, blogging seemed so odd and challenging. Now, it has opened up our ability to learn from one another's personal and professional experiences. I hope you keep it up even after graduation.
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