The Final Phase of Team Work

            When participating in a group, one hopes that the goal or project will have a successful ending, with positive feelings towards each team member.    According to the “Tuckman’s Stages”, the final stage of development in groups is called the adjourning phase, which takes place when the group members have completed their task together and are separating (Abudi, 2010).  Personally, I have had the opportunity to work with a few groups that were successful in progressing through the developmental phases to reach adjournment.  My most memorable experience occurred when I was paired up with a new teacher in a toddler classroom and later we worked together again in a preschool setting.  

            We immediately began to work together effortlessly because we had a shared focus and passion: the children.  In the beginning of our relationship, I had the task to train her in as my co-teacher and it took us a short time period to get to the norming and performing phases of group development.  Once we were both operating with equal knowledge and understanding of our classroom setting, it felt like we were unstoppable in our goals and level of commitment to working with the children.  Groups that develop to the performing stage are working at their highest potential and are extremely focused and passionate about the outcomes of the team work done (Abudi, 2010).  The main component to the success of our group was the trust and commitment we had towards one another.  Once mutual trust is established, the group can support one another through making mistakes and experiencing successes throughout the time they are working together (Learning Center, 2011).  Trust is not a characteristic that can be assumed or occurs immediately when working with others.  It takes time to foster a trusting relationship within a group and to fully commit to a common goal to work towards.  

            After our time together in two different settings as team members, it was time for the two of us to go our separate ways.  The school year was ending, and my co-teacher announced her spouse took a job many hours away and would be moving.  The way our group arrived at the adjourning phase was not how I had envisioned it would be.  It was disappointing to know that I would most likely never get to experience positive group work with this individual again because our work together was so influential to my perception of team work thereafter.  Our parting was difficult, our level of commitment to one another was created from utilizing both of our positive feelings, passion, and drive to build the most impactful team (Laureate Education, 2011).  Luckily, like Abudi (2010) reassures, most groups that reach the performing stage, and then the adjourning stage keep in contact with one another after they have gone different directions.

            Yes, she moved many hours away…but we have technology!  We continuously foster the growth in our long-term relationship as colleagues and friends, while working independently from one another.  The surprising twist to us ending our work together is now we can support each other as we grow in different groups and projects.  Regularly, we can bounce ideas and thoughts off one another with little judgement because we are no longer tied to each other so closely.  Our work together then and now has completely transformed my attitude towards group work and am extremely thankful for her presence in my life.

I have grown to have a similar feeling with my peers at Walden as well.  In the beginning courses, I was nervous about sharing and receiving feedback with one another.  However, I have entered the norming phase and feel like I know my place and look forward to interacting with my group members regularly.  Personally, I feel like I am right around the corner from the performing phase.  With over a years’ worth of experience as a graduate student, I feel like I am on the cusp of performing at my highest level yet as a student in the EC Master’s program.  I must give credit to my professors and peers for supporting my journey to getting there.  I believe it will be a heartfelt goodbye when we do have to finally adjourn in the future from one another and hope that we have made long-lasting relationships that will carry on into the future.

References

Abudi, G. (2010). The five stages of team development: A case study. Retrieved from https://www.projectsmart.co.uk/the-five-stages-of-team-development-a-case-study.php

Laureate Education (Producer). (2011). Team building strategies [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

Learning Center. (2011). How to build a team using vision, commitment, and trust. Retrieved from http://www.learningcenter.net/library/building.shtml