The Adjourning Phase

          This week I read about the five stages of team development: forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. The adjourning stage reflects on their accomplishments and failures as well. A celebratory dinner or a simple thank you and goodbye are enacted at this stage (O’Hair & Wiemann, 2012).

As I look back and consider the adjourning phase for several of the groups in which I have been involved in, I can recall a time in my past where I traveled with my church each summer to sing in a youth choir. We worked together preparing to perform songs and for other performances as well. Day in and day out, we practiced to show ourselves approved in order to put on a great show, bonds were made; as well as, being able to build unity amongst the choir members. After the concert was over, I can look back and remember how hard it was to say goodbye. Even though we all knew we would see each other again for the next summer, we were sad to see our time together end.

Depending on the success or the failure of the group some groups are harder than others to say good bye. Groups that may not have been a success will be easier for me to departure due to the lack of accomplishment. However, in regards to a high performing group, I am sure that it will be more difficult to adjourn. The more we apply our time and effort; we become attached and fond of something’s and/or someone.

One closing ritual that I experienced while being in the youth choir, is that a dinner was held for the youth in order to celebrate our achievement. We took several of pictures with one another; as well as, exchanging contact numbers in hopes to communicate with one another even after the program.

As we become closer into completing our Master’s degree; it will be difficult to part ways. However, I plan to keep in touch through the blogs that we have all created. I will thank everyone for their dedication and effort that we all have put forth into this program. Members may also opt to maintain friendships even if they will no longer be working together (O’Hair & Wiemann, 2012). I hope we may all continue to work together in order to ensure that we all are doing our parts in the EC field.

Adjourning is an essential stage of teamwork because naturally all things will have to come to an end and the adjourning process prepares us for this stage. It also helps us to understand that while we work in groups, we should take the responsibility seriously because there will be timeframes in order to accomplish a task. The more time you waste will be the more time you lose.

 

 

Reference

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