Has your team’s performance fallen off lately? Was it once exciting to be part of the team, and lately you find you’re not having fun?

Perhaps your team has succumbed to team drift. In my Harvard Business Review article, “Diagnose and Cure Team Drift,” I explain how to revitalize a formerly high-performing team that has lost its focus and capabilities.

But, before you decide to revitalize your team, there is an important question to consider.

Is it time for honorable closure?

Cultural anthropologist Angeles Arrien used the term “honorable closure” to describe the practice of acknowledging transitions. According to Arrien, all societies have rituals that acknowledge major life transitions such as birth, marriage, and death. These rituals are important as they provide a conscious recognition of change and support the transition.

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