Five Stages of Team Development

            The family reunion committee group met with the remaining family from the reunion to conduct a farewell breakfast. The group read the “Fruits of the Spirit” with the family. “Fruits of the Spirit” is a biblical term that sums up the nine visible attributes of a true Christian life. This part was very sentimental to me because we were saying good-bye to family members we will not see again until the next two years. The group tied up all the loose ends of the reunion.

As a group we had achieved our purpose and were ready to move on to new things. I don’t think that high performing groups are hardest to leave. There is unity established within the group. At the end of the reunion the group’s morale was high. The group came together during the last week of planning. Members were willing to change their preconceived thoughts and solving of group issues.

            There has not been a group that I participated with that was hard for me to leave. As a group we began to identify with each other. The level of trust contributed to the development of group cohesion. I would have to say the closing ritual with “Fruits of the Spirit” was most memorable activity that I have ever participated in as a team.

Adjourning is an essential stage of teamwork because just as something begins, it has to end. When it is time for me to adjourn from the group of colleagues I have formed while working on my master’s degree in this program, I am sure that I will feel a sense of loss. However, in this profession I never know when I will work with some of these same people in future conferences locally and nationally.