Adjourning Stage
I am always part of at least one team at work whether it is a grade-level team or a special committee. Over the past four years, I have worked with many different individuals within these different groups. I have found my grade-level team the hardest to leave because we had a routine or a comfort-zone so to speak. Four years ago I joined the kindergarten team, formed relationships both personally and professionally with my colleagues, and adjusted to the established roles and routines of working together. However, this year I was involuntarily moved from the kindergarten team to the first grade team because of low student numbers (and I had least seniority). I was very uneasy about leaving the kindergarten team because I had to learn a new curriculum and work with a new colleague who was also being moved involuntarily. Although the kindergarten team adjourned and it was sad, we began a new group as a cross-grade level team, which eased the sadness to a degree.
In regards to my Walden colleagues, we adjourn at the end of each class with our final thoughts, well-wishes, and good-byes via our blogs. It would be wonderful to keep in contact with many of you, but the reality is that we haven't established (or at least for me) personal contact information outside of our virtual classroom. Therefore, I feel our adjourning phase may simply end with a good-bye and celebration of all our hard-work accomplished together. However, we are not at the very end, so there is hope that we can expand our network outside of the Walden boundaries to keep in touch after our final course together because so many of you provide perspectives and resources that are invaluable.
In summary, I think the hardest groups to leave are those that foster trust, respect, and have well-established, effective norms that can efficiently accomplish set goals with minimal conflict. With that said, the adjourning stage is an important stage of teamwork because it allows time for reflection, closure, and opens the the door for future endeavors.
Sounds like your adjourning stage pushed you back to the forming stage. (Abudi), 2010 stated that the stages could move backwards at any time. I also agree with you that our sincerest wishes for our colleagues' futures is where our group will end. I agree that the absence of interacting with each other on a level other than the virtual classroom will not be enough to sustain relationships after the class is over.
ReplyDeleteMaybe we might meet at graduation if you attend and get together for dinner or lunch. I think that would be great instead of just saying good bye via email or our blogs. I look forward to graduation because I will be able to meet many of my colleagues face to face and discuss our jorney together.
ReplyDeleteMaggie,
ReplyDeleteYou are very fortunate to have had the opportunity to be a part of a group for four years! I think the groups that we spend the longest times in are indeed difficult to leave, especially when it is involuntary. I can understand your apprehension about moving to the new group after being so comfortable and established with your previous group. It would be great if we all were able to meet outside of our internet classrooms! As Fawn said, maybe at graduation we will have that opportunity.
Maggie,
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to take a moment to tell you thanks for all of the comments and questions that you have given to me throughout this course. You have caused me to search deep within myself to answer the hard questions about life experiences that ultimately will make the greatest difference in my professional career. Thank you for initiating the S-T-R-E-T-C-H that I needed in my thinking to catipult me into a more equitable practice in my ECS career. God bless you is my prayer, and may your personal and professional growth continue upward :)
CCWhite