Adjourning: An Essential Stage of Teamwork

Adjourning: An Essential Stage of Teamwork

This week you read about the five stages of team development: forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. Consider the adjourning phase for several of the groups in which you have been involved. Think about which aspects of the groups made for the hardest good-bye. Are high-performing groups hardest to leave? Groups with the clearest established norms? Which of the groups that you participated in was hardest to leave? Why? What sorts of closing rituals have you experienced or wish you had experienced? How do you imagine that you will adjourn from the group of colleagues you have formed while working on your master's degree in this program? Why is adjourning an essential stage of teamwork?


The hardest adjourning phase I've ever experienced was when I worked at the Center for Community and Family Services in the Los Angeles County Area.  It was probably the toughest job I've ever had, but it was also the place where I felt I learned the most from.  Although it was difficult to achieve trust and respect from my colleagues at that school or organization, I believe I was able to prove myself as a good asset to the faculty.  I made close professional and personal relationship with a few good teachers and site directors.  We were a team of highly motivated individuals, and all of us had the same vision and mission in life.  Our passion was driven by intrinsic rewards; we thrived in seeing our students develop healthily and reach their fullest potential.  We had the clearest established norms, and as time went by, we had to overcome numerous hardship together, which made our team even stronger.  

In the year 2010, when the organization shut down due to the administration's mismanagement of funds, my team knew we were going to be transferred to different schools and some would also be laid off, or perhaps choose to part ways and start a new journey with a new company.  My team decided to have one last gathering at a special restaurant, and there, we discussed our growth within the company; I spent 5 years there, while the others spent over 10 years.  It was a bittersweet goodbye for all of us, but today, with the help of social networking websites, it feels as if we never left each other.  Facebook, LinkedIn, personal emails, telephoning, have been my  communication avenues to keep in touch with friends and ex-colleagues.  

I imagine that I will adjourn from the group of colleagues I have formed while working on my master's degree in this program in yet another bittersweet goodbye.  I know that with the knowledge we will obtain from the time spent here in Walden University will prepare us for success and better quality of life.  It will be a steppingstone to reaching our ultimate dreams.  I believe that each of us will leave a mark on other people's hearts, as I know some of my colleagues already have done through sharing their unique life stories with me.  I would truly wish each one of my colleagues the best that life could give.  

Adjourning is an essential stage of teamwork because it gives everyone a chance to share their positive experience in the program or career, and wish each other well.  It is also a time to further their relationship outside of work, and perhaps establish good professional contacts so you can utilize their position as your main reference in the future.  Adjourning does not necessarily mean ending your relationship with your colleagues.  Sometimes, it just means, "see you later" because as small as the world is, there is a great chance we may see each other again someday.  This is also why it is best to always leave in good terms with the company and with your colleagues and take care of those relationships even after you have adjourned.

 

Nonviolent Communication and Conflict Management

Think about any disagreements, or conflicts, you have recently experienced or are currently experiencing at work with a supervisor or colleague, or someone in your personal life. Share at least two strategies you have learned about that might help you manage or resolve the conflict more productively, and why these strategies might be effective. For example, could you suggest a compromise? Could you look for a broader range of solutions to your disagreement? Could you use some of the principles of nonviolent communication or the 3 R's to better help you resolve this conflict?


 
Two strategies that I have learned about this week that might help me manage or resolve a conflict more productively is to use some of the principles of nonviolent communication. "Nonviolent Communication skills emphasize personal responsibility for our actions and the choices we make when we respond to others, as well as how to contribute to relationships based in cooperation and collaboration" (The Center for Nonviolent Communication, n.d, pg. 1).  It is important when in a disagreement to remember why and what you are disagreeing about, not bring in personal issues in to the argument. It is vital to remember that your actions and words have consequences. 


 


Nonviolent communication is about learning "to hear our own deeper needs and those of others, and to identify and clearly articulate what 'is alive in us'. When we focus on clarifying what is being observed, felt, needed, and wanted, rather than on diagnosing and judging, we discover the depth of our own compassion. Through its emphasis on deep listening—to ourselves as well as others—NVC fosters respect, attentiveness and empathy, and engenders a mutual desire to give from the heart" (CNVC, n.d., pg. 2). When in an argument or disagreement it is important to remember that being right is not the answer. It is crucial to think of the other person, why are they arguing. It is important not to judge and really listen to what the other person is trying to say.

Who am I as a Communicator

For your blog this week, think about the similarities and differences between how you evaluated yourself as a communicator and how others evaluated you. What is the one thing that surprised you the most? Why? What other insights about communication did you gain this week? Choose at least two to share with others through your blog and consider how each might inform your professional work and personal life.

I was very happy this week that there were many similarities between how I evaluated myself as a communicator and how others evaluated me. I tested the same in verbal aggressiveness scale assessment across the board. It said I scored moderate, that I am able to maintain good balance between respect and consideration for others. That was pretty cool and surprised me that it was just not my opinion that this was true but from the other two people evaluated me.

 

This week I learned about first impressions and jumping to conclusions based on what I see and not what I know. This week for the discussion we had to look at the random picture that was provided and answer personal questions about this person based solely on the picture. It was an interesting assignment but I did not like it. I did not like guessing what kind of person they were without knowing anything about her. But I understand that everyone does this on a daily basis, even myself. We all have looked at someone and judged them without even knowing anything about them. I have learned that I would not want to be judged out of context and that I should not do this to others. This will help me in my professional work and personal life. I will be more open and excepting of others. I will come into contact with many different people in my professional life and sometimes life happens and we do not always make the best first impressions. It is important to get to know a person before making any rash judgements.

 

The second insight I have learned about communication this week is that a lot goes into it!  We have verbal and nonverbal communication. We can all have different listening styles some are people oriented others time oriented. We all have different levels of aggression in our communication. Are you pushy and use insults to get your way, a people pleaser and never like to get in to disagreements, or do you maintain a good balance between the two. We all have different levels of comfort talking in groups or even one-on-one with people we do not know. These all have to do with your personal schemas. It is vital to understand your strengths and weaknesses in regards to communication.  This will help me in my professional and personal life because in everyday life you communicate with people even when you do not intend to. It is important to be a good competent communicator.

Communication and Culture

Think about the cultural diversity you see in your colleagues at school, in your neighborhood, in your workplace, and also, possibly, within your family. Consider all the aspects that make up culture, including race, religion, political affiliation, sexual orientation, varying abilities, and so on.

• Do you find yourself communicating differently with people from different groups and cultures?
• If yes, in what ways do you communicate differently?

Based on what you have learned this week, share at least three strategies you could use to help you communicate more effectively with the people or groups you have identified.

I communicate differently depending on my audience. For example, when I am at work in the classroom with my four year olds, I speak like a mother and teacher. When I am with my colleagues at work in a meeting, I speak like a professional teacher and practice my good listening skills. When I am out and about with myfamily and friends , we are relaxed, use slag and other in-group lingo that I wouldn't use in any other situation. I use technical language when necessary and also more casual, low language depending on the topic or context.

Three strategies I can use to communicate more effectively when in an intercultural situation would be:

Recognize cultural differences

Clarify behaviors as appropriate
Adjust to differences

 

References

O'Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2012). Real communication: An introduction. New York:      Bedford/St.  Martin's.

Communication styles

Consider what you have been learning about communication skills and styles. Then record an episode of a television show you do not normally watch. Watch the show with the sound turned off.

• What do you think the characters' relationships are based on the ways in which they are communicating?
• What are they feeling and expressing based on the nonverbal behavior you are observing?

Now, watch the show with the sound turned on.

• What assumptions did you make about the characters and plot based on the ways in which you interpreted the communication you observed?
• Would your assumptions have been more correct if you had been watching a show you know well?

This was a very interesting and eye opening assignment.  I chose to explore "The Big Bang Theory" sitcom.  With the sound turned off, I would of never guessed the characters were friends and in a social circle.  Their facial expressions were extremely interesting and powerful without words.  Based on nonverbal behavior, I would assume the characters were in constant confusion or disagreement over something.  I noted body language of being uncomfortable, having mistrust, or dislike and the plot was difficult to decipher.  When I watched the episode again with the sound the plot was extremely clear and facial expressions/ nonverbal cues seemed to match the verbal communication and exchanges.  If I had been watching a show I knew well, I would have been able to more clearly decipher the communication without verbal cues. 

competent communication

I chose to think of someone who demonstrates competent communication within my organization and the first person who came to mind was the Director of our Head Start program, Tobita Posly-Mckinney. In my sixteen years with the organization, I have heard her speak on multiple occasions. Each time she speaks or facilitates a meeting, she has my focused attention.

                The behaviors exhibited by Ms. Posley-Mckinney are preparedness, a calm voice, articulation, and knowledge. Rarely does she say “um” or stumble over her words. She appears to be very comfortable speaking to groups and presents herself in an upstanding manner.

                Reflecting on my own communication skills, I would like to model some of Ms. Posley-Mckinney's  behaviors. I would like to appear calm and comfortable, not turn 50 shades of red. I would like to have fluidity in my communication with others, not lose my train of thought, stumble over my words and say “um.” I do enjoy presenting and talking to groups, I just let my anxiety get the best of me.

Professional Hopes and Goals

 This course made me learned more new things about myself. Just as well as me learning about my biases affect in working with young children, understanding more about different cultures and families. As I think about working with many young age children and different families from so many different backgrounds of life styles. My main goal is to respect and cope with a great understanding of diversity, equity, and justice.  I truly will want the different families, young children and any of the staff that work in a public school.  I would want them to have feel very comfortable with me just as well as me working with many staff members on an everyday work hour and parents feel that their children are safe with me. Plus, I would like to reach to the goal of having my parents trust by being involved in seeing that their children succeeding in learning academically not in non-threatening environment.

I would like to give suggestion of thought to people in early childhood field is that by being a teacher I would agree before they enter the field that people in this major should read the book for course anti-bias education text book. This book has helped me out so much by understanding different kinds of information in working with young children and different families. The text book for this course is more like a guide in directing me to become a better person in the field of early childhood.

I would like to give a thanks to my colleagues for the positive comments throughout this eight weeks. This course has given me an experience to share from this class and from everyone. I wish each and every one success in reaching their goals and dreams.

Welcoming Families From Around the World

                                                   The country that I chose was Japan

The five ways that I will prepare myself to be culturally responsive towards this family:

1.      I would research the different languages that are spoken in the Japanese family and then I will try to learn a few words or phrases just as well as the meaning of their writing because it’s so different from American writing. Plus I would try to find a translator who can speak every type of the different languages in their cultural may speak so that the translator can be able to help me communicate with the Japanese family.

2.      Next I would also learn about the economic conditions of the country and the area of the country that my family is from with the problem that they may be facing.  I would try to find out what type of work the family may have been involved in before they left just as well as knowing what good work ethics they can do. I know that I would have to provide the family with support in their change to the job or job’s in America.  I know that I will explain to the family how different the life style is in America from how it is in their country.

3.       I also would do some research on the education systems in both areas so that I can compare their education to how it is in the new location with a listing of best to the lease. So that the family can have the right to determine rather or not the family has any type of knowledge. Then with any type of early childhood education program have the family ever had involvements of being a immigrating to America for help for children/families as well. By meeting with the family discussing their understanding with educational experiences with many great expectations in how I would give my very best support with my great ideals and good benefit goals for their children/child and family.

4.      I would gather the entire family together to sit down and discuss with the family relationships with how their family relationships can work.  I would bring up to discussion with the family intergenerational relationships just as well as the understanding of the role of the children/child in their culture. I would also make sure that I would give them the understanding that everyone do things way different from how they may be use too because people have different beliefs about things some may be the same.

5.      I think I would reflect on any of the biases that I would strongly hinder my relationship with the family just as well as work on many ways to overcome the different biases in helping the Japanese family.

               

I think by me trying to strength my understanding of many different families culture by trying to find many different ways to communicate with them. The main thing I would mainly do is learn about the families goals, values, beliefs, and plans on what great ideals the family are looking forward of doing.  I truly believe that I could accommodate the family which I would also tell the family that I could be I great help for their family in supporting the best for their family.  I think that it would be a two way of the both of us learning about each other cultural. Plus I would say how it is very intriguing for me to learn so much about them that most ways. How their different beliefs about things may also be a great impact to me and how knowledge would be a great impact to them about the two countries.

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

An experience of prejudice that I saw is when I was working at daycare when I first got out of high school. There was an after schooler that was in the 4^th grade and there were more African American children than Caucasian children in the classroom. One Caucasian child spoke out very loudly that he didn’t want to be around the black children he called the “N***** word” he was very upset by being in the same classroom with all African American children. The teachers walked him out of the classroom and had him in the hallway to talk to him about this rudely behavior. Which the teacher was Caucasian. She asked me to come and witness what he was saying to her about way he said what he said. I than ask him “Why would you say that you don’t want to be around black children” and then he stated “my parent taught me that it’s not good to be around a lot of black people”.  The Caucasian teacher and I then explained to him that living in the world today that he will be around all kind of people. Plus, you would need not to say words that is racist toward another cultural because it’s not nice of him to say that because every cultural has a history of good and bad. “The director told him that we are all same of being people some are different but something’s are not good to say because it hurts people feelings” Then the teacher went back in the classroom and explained biases and prejudice to the class before he came back in so that the children could have a positive understanding of the lack of his understanding of his word usage.  I did not make the child feel as if he had done anything wrong, but I really wanted to expand upon what had just happened.  The teacher, principal and I tried to handle the situation as fair and open as I could for the class in a respectable manner and I just tried to deal with the situation the best way I knew how to handle it at the time.

     This incident diminished equity because the Teacher, Principal and I restated the comment that really hurt the African American child’s feelings. Everyone could not believe that the child’s parents could be teaching him hateful things and words like to say about another cultural. The director also stated how every morning that same parent would come and talk to her for advice, and now she felt as if the parent was mocking her and her culture.  Although other African American teachers and other African American student’s feelings were hurt by this child statement. Still as a professional every teacher and director continued to treat the child with respect.  Everyone kept their same everyday kindly behavior as if he never made that statement about African Americans.

     This incident reminded me of the phrase “be careful what you say around children because children are like tape records will repeat what you say and how you say it too”.  The child did not understand how harmful his words were even though the child parents had a very lack of understand someone else’s cultural I think he might not ever repeat their words. I believe as adults we must choose our words wisely because we never know who is absorbing what we say. Like an old phase “practice what you preach”.

     I am of how the situation was handling because it was more of an unexpected situation.  The teacher never retaliated against the family with disrespect of any kind of any of my knowledge in fact the teacher and everyone continued to love him just like her other students in the classroom.  Even though everyone knew how hurtful the statement was but the staff turned a horrible experience into a teachable moment by continuing to loving the child and taking the time out to give him the understanding of how to say kind words toward any culture not just African American but toward everyone.  

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

A microaggression that I recall is when I first began working at Head start. I had a parent come in that I went to school with and she said “I wouldn’t expect you to be a teacher”.

The context happened in a room full of parents during open house. I felt like that the statement was not appropriate. I felt like she should have kept her thoughts to herself.

When I found myself as the target of being mircroaggression I felt very uncomfortable because if someone is going to be bringing their child to school there they may wonder why did that lady say that. Is this lady not good enough to be my child’s teacher?

My observation experience this week has effects in discrimination to my understanding because the way she addressed me just because she didn’t think I could become a teacher.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

In meeting with some colleagues this week the topic of discussion was cultural diversity and each person had a different way in how they defined cultural diversity. I had a conversation with three wonderful people about cultural diversity.

Person 1. She is a K-5 teacher and has been teaching for three years. She believes that culture is the way people have been raised to live by their family. She believes that diversity is a group based on differences of race, gender, sexual orientation, social class and disability.
Person 2:  She is in a Head Start Program who has been a teacher for two years.  She believes that cultural diversity is the inclusion of diverse people in a group or organization that embrace cultural diversity in the workplace or school area with different types of culture of people.
Person 3:  She is a Head Start Center Director for over three years. She believe that cultural diversity is a gender roles that shaped our culture’s ideals for masculine and feminine behavior in ways that have been modified but not radically changed since the early years of time.

What was interesting to me is that each person had their way of how they viewed cultural diversity. When I talked to person 1 once she told me she believes that diversity is a group based on differences of race, gender, sexual orientation, social class and disability. Now I had to ask her how disability went with cultural diversity. She told me because some disabilities are passed out among the community to be involved in helping different cultures seek help for people with disabilities. That is seen in the same light as equality for other minority communities where social structures such as prejudice, segregation, inaccessibility and cultural/religious beliefs are the problems.

In reflecting on my conversations with the three people about culture and diversity I have learned that still people defines cultural diversity totally different. I also learned that people have their own why in how they understand cultural meaning to the best of their own knowledge. I see I need to learn more about cultural diversity but I find that this was very interesting doing because so far what I have learn that everyone has their own social identity in what they believe in .

My Family Culture

Scenario:

A major catastrophe has almost completely devastated the infrastructure of your country. The emergency government has decided that the surviving citizens will be best served if they are evacuated to other countries willing to take refugees. You and your immediate family are among the survivors of this catastrophic event. However, you have absolutely no input into the final destination or in any other evacuation details. You are told that your host country’s culture is completely different from your own, and that you might have to stay there permanently. You are further told that, in addition to one change of clothes, you can only take 3 small items with you. You decide to take three items that you hold dear and that represent your family culture.

Respond to all of the following:

• A description of the three items you would choose 
• I would take a photo album of my family (either old fashioned album or electronic), A cookbook with traditional recipes of my culture and ones I hold dear from my family, and my grandmother's ring that was passed down.
• How you would explain to others what each of these items means to you 
• I would utilize the cookbook to prepare dishes that represent where I come from, photos to show my family and to teach others of where I come from, and the ring simply represents love, passion, endurance, of the life my grandmother and mother both lived. 
• Your feelings if, upon arrival, you were told that you could only keep one personal item and have to give up the other two items you brought with you 
• I would absolutely be devastated, but would hold on to the ring.  This ring represents over 2 generations of woman and my history of where I come from.  The cookbook and photo album are simply material items that remind us of past experiences, interactions, and memories.
• Any insights you gained about yourself, your family culture, diversity, and/or cultural differences in general, as a result of this exercise.
• I found it interesting that I am emotionally connected to a ring rather than a photo album or cookbook.  I hold memories of cooking and family members dear to my heart, but the ring represents so much more of my life.... It represents several of my social identities that I have acquired throughout my life.