Working in Groups (Part 5) - Performing and Adjourning

In this video, I'll talk about the last two stages in Tuckman's model of group formation. These are performing and adjourning. Reaching these stages means that your group has functioned effectively and completed the task that you were set. You could reach these stages relatively quickly, but that will depend on the type of assignment you've had to complete the size of your group and the ways in which your group has moved through the other phases we've discussed.

When your group reaches the performing stage, you should feel very happy that you've achieved your goal. It means that you have demonstrated good problem solving and communication skills. That you've met your deadlines and that your task is completed or very near completion. In this stage, you've not only improved your subject knowledge and work towards finishing your project, but you've also consolidated the teamwork skills that have been developing since the forming stage.

Depending on the type of assignment you're completing, this stage may last a fairly short time. For example, the run up to and giving of a presentation, or it may last over a longer period of time. For example, you may be writing an essay, whichever is relevant to you. You'll hopefully enjoy this stage as it represents the culmination of the group's work.

The performing stage might be a good time for you to continue reflecting individually in order to consolidate your own thinking about how you found group work. Some questions to consider are What have you found the most difficult about working in a group? The easiest? And what skills did you have before the group work that you think have been useful?

How have those skills developed or improved? Have you learned anything new? What are those new skills and are there ways you can continue to develop them once your group work has finished? How has your subject knowledge improved? Again, it's worth remembering, as I said earlier, that these stages of group work aren't necessarily linear, and if changes to the group occur even during the performing stage, you could move back through the cycle.

Reflecting and learning during each stage can help the group solve problems more effectively and more quickly. The second time you move into a particular stage. If your group has successfully reached and maintained the performing phase, you'll deliver your final goal. So well done. Following the performing stage, the group will move into the final phase of Tuckman's framework, adjourning.

You might also see this stage referred to as the mourning stage. Although the task is being completed, recognizing that a group is ending provides a valuable opportunity for consolidating what you've learned and for evaluating the whole process of the group's work. Therefore, the main goals of the adjourning stage are to recognize as a group; growth, progress and achievement. And to recognize as an individual; a development in your skills and to end on a positive note.

And finally, after submitting your project, it will be useful for you to reflect individually on the following questions. How did you find the process of group work? What was done well, and how did it make you feel? What do you think could have been done differently, and how could that have been done differently? How would that make you feel?

Make a list of improved and new skills along with the examples. This kind of reflection will help you to be very clear about what you've learned from the process of group work. You may have found that you really enjoyed working with others as part of a team, but even if you didn't find enjoyment or you experience difficulties with group work, reflecting in this way will help you see the value of that group work and will provide concrete examples of the skills you've developed.

You've now worked through each segment relating to Tuckman's model of group work, and hopefully you feel more familiar with how each stage functions We've discussed strategies for approaching each phase of group work and considered how you can reflect in each stage in order to improve your individual skills as well as the outcome for the group. So good luck with your group work.

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