If I haven't had this conversation with you this week, think very carefully about what I'm about to write. Liza and Lydia both posted a bit about their crews coming together. All of your crews are creating healthy communities -- they've all formed well. But be on the look out for some soon-to-follow rough patches.
There is an old theory of team work that crews at the Guild have proven over and over again: 1)Forming 2)Storming 3)Norming 4)Performing. (for a detailed description click here) The forming phase (which all of you have well underway) is a bit of a honeymoon. New team, new leader, new friendships, new ideas about how school can go. Especially with such charasmatic and wonderful leaders like you all, it's all fun.
The second phase usually takes people by, well, storm. Suddenly something happens in the crew and you've got a kind of group-crisis. The folks at MindTools describe the phase this way:
Soon, reality sets in and your team moves into a "Storming" phase. Your authority may be challenged as others jockey for position as their roles are clarified. The ways of working start to be defined, and as leader you must be aware that some members may feel overwhelmed by how much there is to do, or uncomfortable with the approach being used.
Amanda, you've seen some of this already with Precious and the way the crew is reacting to her. Lydia, you've seen some of this in the way the group of girls that we talked about acts during IWT. Know that these are necessary happenings that will challenge your leadership. Be aware of them. You need to be careful how you react to this storming. Addressing these storms can flow naturally right out of your personality, or your idea of what the job should be. While I wouldn't want to stop that kind of reaction, I am advising each of you to consider and reflect on how you handle these issues. Handled well, these storms could create the norming an performing stages that help your kids become super successful. Mishandling could take lots of your time to set aright.
As always, I urge you to talk to me or Jeff or Juan or Dana or Shanita about how to deal with the storms that arise. We can help you look at alternatives and strategies for the best outcomes.
Keep it up, y'all. Things are moving along exceptionally well. You're all doing awesome!
Peace,
Al
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