Crafting a team-specific vision statement
Abstract
Although a mission statement is included in the AmeriCorps new members handbook, at the beginning of each program year new members with the City of Lakes AmeriCorps program in Minneapolis, Minnesota, participate in crafting a personalized "vision" statement for their team to help guide their year. The vision statement the members create is more particular to their individual goals and the things they hope to get out of their year beyond providing needed service. Jennifer Valley, of the City of Lakes AmeriCorps Program, shared this activity via ACList, the AmeriCorps e-mail discussion list, in September 2002.
Issue
General program objectives may seem vague or superficial to new AmeriCorps members.
Action
At the beginning of each program year new members with the City of Lakes AmeriCorps program in Minneapolis, Minnesota, participate in crafting a personalized "vision" statement. After members have graduated from pre-service training and served a month or so at their sites, they attend a retreat where the focus is on teamwork (through a high-ropes course). During the retreat there is time set aside to process and reflect on their work so far, and begin creating goals for the coming year (perhaps planning for life after AmeriCorps).
At some point during the retreat, members participate in the following visioning activity:
Each member writes down two or three goals that they have for the year on 4"x 6" cards or pieces of paper. Then members tape their goals on a wall or white board. The group spends a few minutes reading all of the goals and then begins the process of grouping them into similar categories. Once that is done, members break into the same number of small groups (there are usually 3-5 categories) and each group takes goals from their assigned category. Their task is to summarize the category in one or two sentences. By putting it all together a succinct vision statement is crafted.
The activity is very inclusive, giving every member a voice, by encouraging a lot of dialogue during the process. Members are asked to be very specific in writing their goals, and concrete in their measures of how they will attain them. The activity takes about an hour to complete, sometimes longer, depending on the dynamics of the particular group.
Context
Approximately 30 members of the City of Lakes AmeriCorps Program, Minneapolis, Minnesota, provide academic support and increased opportunities for enrichment to children in six schools, four YMCA's and a city library. Test scores and attitudes toward learning are improved through intensive tutoring provided to 150 low-achieving students. Development activities include improving life skills of youth. In-service events, involving area schools and community-based agencies, strengthen linkages and increase collaboration.
Outcome
Program members see just how much they have in common with each other (as far as goals and interests go).
The visioning activity gives every member a voice because all members have their individual goals posted/included.
Teambuilding is supported and improved as members work together in small groups to craft the final vision statement.
After the retreat, clean copies of the vision statement are printed for all members to keep and refer back to.
Posted On
October 8, 2002For More Information
Resources
Goodwin, Terence B.Write on the Wall: A How-To Guide for Effective Planning in Groups. Alexandria, Virginia: American Society for Training and Development, 1994.
American Society for Training and Development
1640 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22313-2043
Phone: (703) 683-8100.
The book explains how to lead a team through a group planning process. Although directed towards for-profit businesses, it contains many concepts and exercises applicable to the non-profit sector. Also includes four major sections including facilitation and pre-planning, using groups to develop action plans, creating a vision and trainer tips, and examples of plan formats.
Starting Strong: A Guide to Pre-Service Training, prepared by Mosaica: The Center for Non-Profit Development and Pluralism, August 1996, was developed specifically to address the needs of AmeriCorps*State, National, and Tribes and Territories programs in designing and delivering pre-service training to AmeriCorps members.
The guide includes information on such topics as:
- Developing a pre-service training plan/package
- Evaluating pre-service training
- Leadership and self-understanding
- Working effectively in groups
- Diversity and multiculturalism
- Community-based skills
Chapter 13, "Planning and Evaluation," covers basic planning skills and tasks, developing measurable process and outcome objectives, and evaluation methods — with specific applications to setting objectives, planning and evaluation of a project. This section is designed to enable program personnel to:
- Develop training units that provide core planning and evaluation knowledge and skills for members.
- Give members the skills to help plan and evaluate their own projects.
- Prepare members to carry out other planning and evaluation tasks, individually or as part of a team.
Related Practices
Related sites
Starting Strong: A Guide to Pre-Service Training
