For a
group to reach a level of effectiveness and excellence it must reach a point of
mutual trust where the members are able to perform and problem solve to the
benefit of the members, the good of the group, and to the fulfillment of the
goal (Abudi, 2010). Unfortunately, when
the goal is reached, or for a multitude of other reasons, the time will come
for members to adjourn. The brighter side of adjourning from an effective group
is that although there is sadness, the members can celebrate their successes
and will often stay in touch with one another.
Even if they never work directly together again, they will often consult
each other on personal and professional matters in the future. Thankfully, this has been the case for the
most effective group I was ever a part of.
While I
was completing my undergraduate Early Childhood Student Teaching, I had the privilege
of working as a part of a phenomenal group who not only placed the needs of all
children in the facility first, but also supported families and each other
tremendously. We were led by a director
who fully understood the roles of teacher, parent, and management; and was able
to play up the strengths of each and every member of the staff to create an
incredibly cohesive and effective environment.
Eventually the time came for a new district manager to be placed, who
began to make changes that ate away at the spirit of the director, which
trickled down to the teachers. At the
same time, several of us were either pregnant, or had one or more children
enrolled in the center, which complicated our personal needs and many of us
chose to fulfill our professional needs in a way that maximized benefit for our
families.
Due to
the fact that we all worked so well together and respected each other, we keep
in touch to this day. There are a dozen
of us who speak regularly, see each other socially, consult each other
professionally, and have even worked together in different capacities over the
years. While it was incredibly difficult
to watch the group dissolve, we have all succeeded in our new paths and love to
share our experiences. We now function
differently, under a new set of goals, but still remain a loosely structured
group.
The group
I am most anxious about adjourning from is the one I have built my business around. The families I work with have not only built
my business, but they have challenged my professional development and become a
significant part of my life and heart.
While I am hopeful that we can remain close and that our children will
remain friends, there are no guarantees.
I anticipate that our trust in each other will allow us to navigate our
new roles when the time comes and that we can renegotiate our positions and
goals for ourselves and our families. It
is a personal goal that I will incorporate into my professional closure.
I hope
that as I adjourn from the group of colleagues that I have formed here at
Walden, I will not say goodbye entirely.
Just as in any group, we all have a different skill set that allows us
to engage in dialogue that stimulates thought and challenges previous
thinking. I look forward to maintaining some
of the stronger relationships I have built and would enjoy hearing from my
colleagues in the future. I predict that
our departure will be one of great encouragement and success, and that we will
all thank one another for playing a part in our journeys.
References
