Team Building-Adjourning

When I think about teams that I have worked in that have been difficult to adjourn, I've realized that its the people with whom I've made a personal connection that are difficult to leave. The personal connection can come from being in the thick of things side by side with one's teammates, from both living and working together for a time, or both. A team's ability to triumph in adverse conditions strengthens bonds. Also, teams whose members share aspects of their emotions and experiences become bonded further. The group that I found hardest to leave was when I worked at Camp Jened. This camp was run as a vacation spot for developmentally disabled adults. Staff members worked hard both physically and emotionally. The staff lived communally in large, open cabins. We spent our (few) days off together and worked closely with one another all day. At the end of both summers that I worked at the camp, it was difficult to leave. I had bonded with most of the staff members through work, play, trials and tribulations. Since the staff came from all over the world, it was unlikely that I would ever see any of them again. Our goodbye rituals consisted of bonfires and sentimental statements. No goodbye ceremony was ever adequate and was only cold comfort for the loss that would soon be experienced. I am not sure how we will adjourn from our experience in this educational program. Some people have begun the program and ceased or suspended participation. I've missed them already. I've missed reading their blogs and discussion posts. I think that it is important to adjourn at the end of a team's mission because it provides closure. Closure is necessary so that one is able to move on to new experiences.