ADJOURNING

This week I learned about the five stages of development. (forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. (O’Hair & Wiemann, 2012)  Personally aspect of a group that would make it hard for me to leave would not necessarily be that we were high-performing.  If we trusted each other so much so that the relationship was one I counted on, and our goal was not completed in the end, saying goodbye would still be very difficult.  I would say it is easy to leave a team with low trust because if trust is low we probably did not take the time to get to know each other anyway.  The opposite might also be true but can also be false.  I can trust someone professionally thus ensuring the team is high-functioning but not share much personal information, remaining unattached which would make it easy to say good-bye.

Groups with the clearest norms could go either way as well…

If we established norms to stay professional keep us on a professional task then leaving might not be too difficult.  If the norms were established after the group got to know each other personally and formed a good bond while working together, then it might be hard to leave.

I have been working with the organization I am currently with for five years now.  I am making plans to part ways after I complete my Masters here at Walden.  Have we accomplished our goal of “positively impacting the quality of lives of children and families” (18^th Avenue mission Statement), yes we have but is that a goal that is continuous?  Yes it is because there will always be children and families to serve.  Parting with them will be so entirely difficult because I have been working with everyone for the years I have been there and whether I allowed it or not have developed a form of personal relationship.  Which simply tells me that the amount of time spent working in a group also affects whether or not it is hard to leave.

            I always make sure to wish my teammates well when it is time to part ways.  Leaving my colleagues at Walden will be hard because I will not have a group of people to constantly challenge my ideas and collect ideas from.  Nonetheless, adjourning is important because one if the team ever gets together again, they will have a chance to hone their performance.  Another reason why adjourning is important is because starting the process with a group of different people will present and invite diversity which will make you a better person and professional because you’ll be able to think and analyze from broader perspectives.

(Adapted from O'Hair and Wiemann, 2012, pp. 278)
Reference
O'Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2012). Real communication: An introduction. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.