Personal Collaboration- Adjourning Stage

Thinking back to all of the different groups I have been involved in, I believe the hardest groups to leave are the groups where I was able to establish close relationships which allowed our group to be successful in our projects. Abudi (2011) explains the adjourning stage to be when the group celebrates their success and says their goodbyes while also reflecting on the successes of the group or the failures of the group. I do not recall a time when a group I have been working with ever really said goodbye.  In college I worked with many groups and we would move on but I never felt upset to leave that group; I experienced the feeling of “on to the next” in terms of assignments or classes. Once working in the education field, I came to the realization that some of the groups I was involved in I really enjoyed because it gave me the opportunity to work with others and communicate with others that I would not normally see on a day to day basis. Most recently, I was working with a group of teachers in relation to the “reading committee” at my school and when I was unable to join that group again this year because of other obligations for a new group I felt upset. I would miss the time spent with those teachers because I enjoyed the different activities and events we planned so I was feeling upset that I would not be a part of those events as I had been in the past.

            Considering how I will adjourn from the group of individuals I have been working with for this master’s program, I feel will be bittersweet as we all move onto the next stage in our lives. I will be proud of everyone, and miss the week to week discussions as we have been able to get to know one another and learn from each other. I think the adjourning stage of team building is important because it allows for each individual to move on and take what they have learned and their successes and apply them to another group. Always sticking with the same group would limit what you are able to accomplish and would limit the number of individuals you are able to work with. This process also helps one to understand which groups they work best in and areas of possible improvements.

References

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

Conflict Resolution

As I consider different disagreements or conflicts I have had in the workplace, I do feel that compromise is often a great option. Working in the education field there are often disagreements when it comes to working with children and I have had disagreements with coworkers before relating to this topic. I believe it is important to consider what the needs of the child are and you need to value those needs (Conflict Resolution Network, n.d). In order to compromise with an individual, both parties must understand each other’s point of view and respect each other’s opinion. From there, a decision can be made in terms of what is best based on the true needs.

            The hardest part is understanding that there is not usually a right or wrong answer but simply one solution is more appropriate for a specific scenario.  In order to not lose self-esteem over this, following Chesire’s (2007) three R’s (Respect, Respond, and Relationships) would be helpful. I find that I try my best to show respect to my coworkers and I ensure that I respond respectfully when I am communicating with my coworkers. The different relationships I have formed within my workplace play a role in how I communicate with others and the extent of the disagreement. I have found that someone I respect greatly I am more reasonable with accepting their point of view. If the respect is not present, it can be more challenging to compromise.   

            As I spoke with my coworkers about their point of view on effective communication a common answer I found was many of them felt listening to what the person is saying can help with the communication. Showing that you are an active listener can help gain respect and can show that you have compassion for their point of view, thoughts and ideas (Center for Nonviolent Communication, n.d). Many of my coworkers felt listening is the first step to effective communication.

References

Chesire, N. (2007). The 3 R’s: Gaeway to Infant Toddler Learning. Dimensions of Early Childhood. Volume 35, No. 3.

Conflict Resolution Network, (n.d). CR kit. Retrieved from http://www.crn-hq.org/content.aspx?file=6613845515x

The Center for Nonviolent Communication. (n.d). The center for nonviolent communication. Retrieved from http: www.cnnvc.org