The hardest group for me to leave was a school in Las Vegas. Out of all of the groups I have ever worked with, this group of teachers had the best of all worlds! They had well established and kept, norms and they were very high functioning. As a result, when leaving this group, I felt as though I was leaving part of my own family.
As far as closing rituals, the above group had a wonderful going away for me when I left that, again, made me feel loved and respected as part of their team. There was also a systematic goodbye that I completed by going to each persons classroom for a hug and for follow up contact information for us to keep in touch.
Adjourning is essential because it provides people from any group a type of closure. It is a significant way to end a project and make people at peace with all the ups and downs that the project most likely entailed - which of course is also a final time for forgiveness and acceptance.
About Me
- Tammy
- I am a thirty one year old Montana gal. I am fiercely independent and enjoy quiet time just as much as I love to spend time with my friends and family!
Hi Tammy,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that adjourning brings closure, which is especially important after all the time, commitment, and energy that is spent in teamwork. We often pour so much of ourselves into the first four stages and then we forget the adjourning is just as important. In this stage of team building we have the opportunity to celebrate successes and recognize best practices as well as lessons learned for future projects. Good luck in your future team and adjourning endeavors!
Tammy, I too agree that it is most difficult to leave a group that is high functioning. It is in those groups that you feel you are at your best giving the most of yourself and your ideas. Those types of groups for me also bring about the most learning and information exchange. Thanks for your post!
ReplyDeleteTammy, to be able to properly adjourn a group is a "significant way to end a project." I agree with your statement. I have been part of so many projects with many of them abruptly adjourning and not allowing the process of closure for the participants.
ReplyDeleteTammy,
ReplyDeleteWhen I was adjourning from my group I felt like I was leaving apart of my family as well. Its crazy how groups can make us feel this way. Thanks for sharing!
Tammy,
ReplyDeleteI feel that the adjourning process is also a time to let people of the group know that even though there may have been difficult times, we need to let them go and move on. That forgiveness is important.
Adjourning, is the break-up of the group, hopefully when the task is completed successfully, its purpose fulfilled; everyone can move on to new things, feeling good about what's been achieved.
ReplyDeleteTammy,
ReplyDeleteI too have had challenges and setbacks during this journey. However, I feel we will come out better in the end. Challenges are just small bumps in the road to success. Good luck:)