Team work and Team building

I have worked with several different groups and teams in my career.  It seemed to me that the group that was hardest to leave was a team of behavioral therapist that I worked with several years ago in an early childhood special ed. setting.  I had already known many of these therapists before working in the same classroom as them, so the forming stage had already begun, and we became very bonded as a unit.  I would say that our established norms for our group was an area of weakness in our team because we were friends prior to being coworkers.  Ours strength was in performing.  We were very effective and enjoyed each other and our students very much!  Adjourning was very difficult with this group because we worked so well together.  However it was determined that we would be more effective working in separate locations where we could help train other staff.  We have remained friends since then.  We now share personal and professional stories and advice.

The adjourning stage for any group is important because it reflects what was learned and benefited from the group work.  It is my hope that through these courses, I am creating a network of colleagues which will assist me throughout the program, and perhaps throughout my career.