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