This
week I read about the five stages of team development. The five stages are forming,
storming, norming, performing and adjourning. As I think about all the teams
and groups that I have been involved with, I focus on the adjourning phase.
This is when the project comes to an end and the participants move to different
projects. Some teams it was very easy to leave because of the other four
factors in the team not being strong, and to be honest, I do not know how we
survived to the adjourning stage. Some groups and teams it was very hard to
leave because of how strong the other four phases where and the passionate and
goals that were accomplished by the team. One group that was very hard to break
apart from was cohorts during my student teaching. As a team we had a tight
bond for four years and had to leave because we all accomplished a goal
together which was completing student teaching and receiving our degrees. These
are the people that I would study with, eat with, and complete group projects
with. These are the people that I grew with during my undergraduate years.
Graduation was a very nice closing ritual that also helped me transition to a
new part of my life while still holding the memories close. I imagine that I
will adjourn from my group of colleagues that I have formed while working in my
master’s program is somewhat the same manner, but less intensive. These people
I have grown with professionally and have worked with to complete a goal and it
will be hard to say goodbye, but the relationships do not have to end after the
degree is completed which is comforting. The adjourning stage is essential
because of its importance of closer and celebration of reaching a goal. Without
the adjourning stage, nothing in this world could ever get accomplished. This
is why I feel that this stage in team development is the most bittersweet
stage.
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
Hi Abigail,
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with you about adjourning teams. It is a stage of mixed feelings, you are so happy your are moving on to a new stage and a new challenge, but you are also sad that you are not working together with your team anymore.
Truly a "bitter-sweet" phase.Group or team work really makes us fulfill a larger goal and adjourning stage is necessary to celebrate our success and evaluate our shortcomings.Adjourning stage promotes better human relations;the idea of coming together for closure after achieving a goal either through a formal or informal form of ritual helps us build better relationships ;sometimes livelong positive interpersonal relationship.Therefore working towards building an effective team is a necessary requirement for anyone engage in any team work.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog and couldn’t agree more with how we are affected by the adjourning stage. We work very hard on a team and then it is time to say goodbye. I also agree that when a team is done we don’t need to say goodbye-we should all try to stay I touch and even get together at some point. I continue to learn so much from your post both here and in our discussions because you add another perspective that makes me think about what I have said or maybe how I have phrased an idea in class-so thank you for helping to give me more to think about.
ReplyDeleteI was also in a cohort group while working on my bachelor's degree, were I formed lasting friendships as well. During our adjourning fairwell party, we exchanged business cards and phone number, promising to contact one another for help on future projects.
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