Grouping at Walden

I can honestly say that all of my groups where I have been placed through my experience at Walden have been high-performing. I have felt connections with each of my colleagues that I have had opportunity to share with. I have seen many of the same colleagues in each of my courses as I move forward so I have not felt hardship when leaving a group because I have confidence that my next group at Walden with be high-performing as well.

“Norms are recurring patterns of behavior or thinking that come to be accepted in a group as the “usual” way of doing things.” (O’Hair & Wiemann, 2012) Each of the groups that I have participated in have had clear established norms. Each class that I have had so far at Walden is very similar to one another. Every class requires a discussion board posting(s), responses to the discussion board, application assignment, and a blog assignment as well as responses to the blog. Walden has established the norms for us and many of my group members that I have had have followed each of the norms established.

The first group that I participated in was hardest to leave because I did not know what to expect from the next class and/or group. I understand that many groups eventually disband so I deal well with adjusting and moving on. (O’Hair & Wiemann, 2012) My first group was where I was introduced to the program and some of my colleagues so it was a nervous step to take. As I moved on it was another step in my career that was nerve-racking but it worked out with the support of my high-performing groups.

I have experienced closure and best wishes from my colleagues as we finish one class and enter the next. I have received personal emails as well as feedback from discussion and/or blog postings about sharing work with other throughout our course together. This helped with closure in the group.

I imagine that I will adjourn from my group of colleagues that I have formed while working on my master’s degree in this program by exchanging emails. I plan to communicate with my colleagues by sharing stories as well as helpful tips as we advance in our career. I have learned so much from my colleagues thus far so I imagine

Adjourning is an essential stage of teamwork because it enables people to have closure and move on. “The group members reflect on their accomplishments and failures as well as determine whether the group will disassemble or take on another project.” (O’Hair & Wiemann, 2012) Adjourning also gives the opportunity for groups to decide if they want to expand by continuing to work together in another group/organization.