Adjourning

"In the "adjourning" stage the project is coming to an end and the team members are moving off into different directions" (Abudi, 2010, p. 1).  It is always difficult to leave a group even when results were not particularly productive.  Throughout the course of the group you form bonds and relationships with the members of your group.  In high-performing groups it is likely that you have gone through all five stages of team development: forming, storming, norming, performing and adjourning.  After completing the first four stages you have formed strong trusting relationships with the people in your team or group, the adjourning stage is important to the emotional needs of the individuals in the group.

I worked at a daycare for over six years in a kindergarten program, also known as discovergarten.  In the time I was there I worked closely with my colleagues to develop activities for the children that promote physical, emotional, and cognitive development.  Adjourning from the team was a difficult endeavor, although I was entering a new realm of my professional career, it was extremely difficult to leave.  I ended my six years there with a small celebration in which we had time to talk and discuss our trials and tribulations.  After five years I am still in contact with my group of colleagues from the discovergarten program.

I think it will be difficult to adjourn from the master's program.  Although I will be elated to finish, leaving the contributing thoughts and ideas of the people I have been in contact with throughout my past seven classes will be difficult.  I will be interested to hear how the program has impacted their current professional career after completion of the program. 
  
Reference:







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.html

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