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M.
Winding Up A Group
M.2.
How to Dissolve or Adjourn the Group
M.3.
Some Reasons for Group Closure
(planned or unplanned; with, or without,
appointed leader; open or closed)
| Reason |
Group
framework |
| End of the
program or contract (maturity) |
High school,
college, camp, year program, seminar, course, work/staff group, action
group/committee, social/peer group, youth group, hobby/interest group,
therapy, support |
| Group never
really took off in terms of membership, goals or activity |
Action group/committee,
work/staff group, social/peer group, youth group, hobby/interest group,
support |
| Group outlived/achieved
its purpose/useful lifetime |
Seminar,
course, action group/committee, work/staff group, social/peer group,
youth group, hobby/interest group, therapy |
| Members outgrew
the group, or moved on |
Action group/committee,
social group, youth group, hobby/interest group, therapy, support |
| Group breakdown/failure/poor
leadership - symptomized by ongoing and divisive disagreements, rivalry,
significant loss of members... |
Action group/committee,
social/peer group, hobby/interest group, therapy, support |
M.4.
The Closing Focus
Dissolving
or ending a group comprises many issues, especially participants' distress
at the need for change and adjustment, sharing their achievements and
growth, as well as the (official) need for accountability - feedback/review
and evaluation of goals.
Winding Up on a high point
and saying goodbye are therefore tantamout to insufficient recognition
of a significant group lifetime; winding up a program after completing
feedback and evaluation forms patently ignores the crystallization processes
in which everyone has invested, the achievements and the personal issues
of dissolution.
In the community and educational
setting, the leader's aim can act as shock absorber, facilitator and catalyst,
by Winding Up a contractual relationship in an organized and constructive
manner. Leading-in sessions can be used to address ongoing feedback and
move into supportive programming, including facilitating choices about
how the group wishes to mark this point in their lives.
If
a group winds up with tearful smiles and talking excitedly about their
plans, while the leader struggles with a heap of authentic paperwork and
impressions, the chances are that closure has been well handled - read
on!
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