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.