Leadership Lessons 2012
Team Topics
“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end.
But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”
~ Winston Churchill
Group Closure: Facilitating a Meaningful Goodbye
It’s almost time to say goodbye. Yet, the multiple
things you need to get done between now and the end of
the year can make it easy to back-burner closure.
You’ll likely feel lousy if you don’t recognize this
time of year, though, and there are some simple things
you can do to facilitate a meaningful goodbye. They
include…
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Make Top 10 Lists. In bullet point format, list 10
things (or some other number) you appreciate about
each person on your team. Put these on nice paper
with a personal signature at the bottom, and you’re
bound to create something your group members will
treasure. It’s the power of words – with meaning.
Award Winning. Host an awards cookout and hand
out fun awards (i.e. a ruler for the person who grew
the most or a comic book for the person who
helped everyone laugh the most). Involve group
members in deciding award categories and recipients.
The Collective Collage. Collect pictures and
make an organization collage – complete with
fun quotes and phrases from magazines! Take the
collage to a copy center and get a color copy for
each group member to keep.
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Clipboard Collages. Make clipboard collages,
where you all sit around talking and cutting out sayings/words from magazines to pass to fellow group
members. Then, each person gets a blank clipboard
where he/she can collage all the clippings their group
members shared. Cover them with clear contact
paper for a permanent seal.
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Play “My Wish for You…” Each team member
shares a hope/wish for each fellow group member to
take into the next chapter of his/her life.
Determine the needs of your organization, their dynamic and how you can fit in purposeful closure activities
before the year is done. Also think about what you want
to personally share with your group members as your
experience with them comes to a close.
Leadership Reflection…
Making Closure Fit
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How are your group members feeling about their
experience coming to a close?
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What are some of their concerns?
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What are some of their favorite memories?
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Based on what you heard from your group members,
what is the ideal closure activity for them?
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Capture Moments. Make a group DVD of photos, songs and interviews.
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Take it With You. Have a t-shirt or pillowcase
signing party.
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Play “Positive Bombardment.” Take turns having each team member sit in the middle of the
circle while fellow group members “bombard”
him/her with positive thoughts, memories, etc.
How can you encourage group members to take their
experiences this year and apply them to their future
lives?
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What can you do to support those group members
who are graduating?
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Prepared for our institution by PaperClip Communications.
Reproduced or retransmitted under license by PaperClip Communications.