Week 8 Thank You and Appreciation

One of the things that I have learned not only in this class and other classes, I really enjoy learning from others. Each week I read and analyze  the assignments and resources. I then go to discussion or the blogs and gain more insight from each and every post that is made. I can agree, add, question what I know and discovered, and I work with others to summarize the topic.

Working with you all has been a great experience. It is great to see familiar faces as we progress through the program. I enjoy meeting new people each class, as well. I thank each and everyone of you for working as a team to create a fabulous learning experience. I appreciate all your kind words, knowledge, and opinions! Good luck to all of you in the near and distant future. I will probably see many of you again next class!

Respectfully,
Samantha True

Week 6 Post!!

This week we learned about the five stages of team development. The last stage is Adjourning. This is stage where your project and/tasks are complete as a group. The group goes separate ways. In this part, teams can come together to celebrate success (Abudi, 2010).  One thing that really caught my attention was how Abudi talks about what was learned about what was done great and what could be done differently in another group setting (2010).

           I have had a few instances where group adjourning only consisted of celebration and our achievement. This is very important. When things such as what can be improved on, it wasn’t in a group setting. I like the idea of going through the project that was achieved and talking about if we have this group again what could we do to achieve higher.

           I think that adjourning can be hard for some groups. I have had a group of teachers I worked with that put together a fundraiser for local cancer walk last summer. We set up a few games for children to play at while the walk was going on. At the end, we got together to discuss if this is something we would do next year. Knowing we were going to do it next year made it easier, plus we still worked together! Cant wait for this year! We are starting to plan now! I do think that high performing groups are harder to leave. I think a bond is made when everyone is out for the same goal and work equally to contribute to it. There tends to be less of a power shift in group cliques. I think that this why we did not want the hard work to end.  However I have had groups where saying goodbye was easy due to the lack of work of some and how it was more of a pain to be in that group. Those are more from the college days of group projects. Now at work, with lots of group meetings going on to set up summer program, there is so much conformity and respect for this program, it seems like there is a different level of maturity and respect for each other.

           One group I work in now is the summer program development board. I think that right now, not having this group would be devastating. I have met so many great professionals that I respect and admire. We work hard every day to bring this program to an open. I think that when we know summer is over and take time away from the next year planning, a sense of relief is going to happen, but I will miss the hard work and fun put into planning it. I have created bonds with people in the community so far. My colleagues and I have learned so much about each other. We have really worked together this year to bring a really great summer program. I think that this program will be really hard to disperse from for a few months until we start planning again.

           Right now, I have met many people throughout this master’s program. I have gain so much knowledge from each person that I have had the pleasure of having discussions with. I think that after this program, I feel like there will be a part of my life missing (as sappy as that is its true!!).  I hope that we all will be at graduation and finally meet face to face. There we can talk about our experiences and just give hugs to say hey I really enjoyed working with you and wish you all the best of luck.  I think this blog is a great way to connect with my past classmates and give a thanks to all that you have done for me. I look at each blog every week and learn about their experiences. I am thankful to have such dedicated and focused colleagues. Maybe we can keep in contact through these blogs, every once in while by posting an experience now and then.

           After thinking about the adjourning stage, I realize how essential it is to team and each team member individually. As an early childhood professional, its all about continuing our learning to make us better each and every day. It is about learning the new ways we can help our children, their families and our profession. The adjourning stages of each project/experience, teaches us what our strengths are and what we can do to be better. It teachers us what we can work on and learn more about.

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.htm

Week 5 Conflict

This is a very new and ongoing conflict. On Tuesday morning I had an immediate family member pass away. When I found out, I knew that I would not be able to take off work without really putting up a fight. It happened to another colleague of my mine a few weeks ago.

On Wednesday morning I went to my director and she totally understood that I needed to leave for Florida on Thursday morning. I needed to be there for my parents and sister. She told me she would work it out and that I could go home and that she wishes I would have called her, but understood my concern about our head boss! He come around once every two months to just check in on the place and this was the few days he was here. If he was not around, I feel like I would not have to worry as much. That afternoon I was headed to NYC to  wait on the next available flight or wait for my flight when I got the call from my boss saying he did not understand why it had to be so urgent if family was there and it was not a parent. I was shocked and hurt that he said that. I took a deep breath and said, "Where I am going is where i need to be. You take the actions you need to take. I will be back Monday, but I will keep in touch" I was really hurt by how he handles things like this. He does know what the situation was and that I would not just get up and leave if it was not necessary and that i am a professional. However, my family comes first. To conclude the story, he called me this weekend and said that he was sorry for how he handled the situation. I was calm and over how he treated me. He said that how he treated me was unacceptable and needs to work on the fact that things happen where there are emergencies. He said he is a business man with a hot head. He offered his help and that to keep in touch about when I was to come back that Jess our director will take it from here.

I love working there but working for a private owner is hard. He has never owned a center and is a straight up business man. Throughout the year or so that I have been involved in his organization, there have been times we had to bring him to the understanding of that running a child care center may need to be different compared to how he has handled other transactions.

So now that things have settled down this week, and before I go home to deal with homework and school again, I am struggling dealing with going back. I am still slightly hurt more bruised, actually. I think about the 3S skills: See, listen and speak from the third side. I already have that mind set and really do use this method in most walks of life. However when it really cuts deep in my personal life, I dont know how to move on. Is this conflict over? Especially if I stil feel hurt? He did apologize and I know he was sincere. I see why he gets upset and what brings it on and where it comes from. I know what he is going to say monday. Maybe when my emotions go back to normal, I will be able to move on. I love where I work! We have a great program and great kids. I love that our program is growing and we have new centers opening. I love that my boss and director support me and my education to be able to grow within the company, however, in times like this really bring me down.

I think the best way to look at it through what i have read this week, is to resolve conflict. If i feel like it hasnt been resolved, resolve it!!! I am going to go into a meeting with my boss with clear thoughts and use the 3S skills.