Shared VisionShared Vision

Sandra Kreps, Andrea Paul & Yvonne TaylorSandra Kreps, Andrea Paul & Yvonne Taylor

Shared Vision Is:Shared Vision Is:Fostering a commitment to a common Fostering a commitment to a common

purpose.purpose.

The set of tools and techniques for The set of tools and techniques for bringing all of our unlike aspirations into bringing all of our unlike aspirations into alignment around the things people have alignment around the things people have in common.in common.

Shared Vision Is: (cont.) Shared Vision Is: (cont.) Having a concrete Having a concrete

picture of what you picture of what you want the school to want the school to look like.look like.

What we want to What we want to become.become.

NOT just an agreed NOT just an agreed upon idea. Rather, it upon idea. Rather, it is a specific mental is a specific mental image of what is image of what is important to our important to our school community.school community.

Shared Vision Key ElementsShared Vision Key Elements A sense of commitment is built together by a A sense of commitment is built together by a

group of people working in collaboration.group of people working in collaboration.

Long term and short term goals are established Long term and short term goals are established together as a team.together as a team.

Application of the defined vision steps and Application of the defined vision steps and accountability of the team for following through accountability of the team for following through are key to sustainability of the shared vision.are key to sustainability of the shared vision.

Shared Vision ConceptsShared Vision Concepts The primary communication channel for The primary communication channel for

developing and sharing vision is through developing and sharing vision is through informal networks.informal networks.

The contribution process of the team must be The contribution process of the team must be threat-free.threat-free.

The entire team must be able to develop and The entire team must be able to develop and share vision without administrative or other share vision without administrative or other community leader control.community leader control.

Shared Vision Concepts (cont.)Shared Vision Concepts (cont.)

The more that all stakeholders are involved The more that all stakeholders are involved in developing the vision, the greater the in developing the vision, the greater the commitment and the shared ownership of commitment and the shared ownership of the ideas generated by the group.the ideas generated by the group.

http://blablab.re-visionlabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/collaboration.jpg

Importance of Shared Vision to the Importance of Shared Vision to the Learning OrganizationLearning Organization

Shared responsibility for developing and Shared responsibility for developing and implementing the vision leads to greater success implementing the vision leads to greater success in achieving the vision.in achieving the vision.

Shared responsibility and creativity solidifies a Shared responsibility and creativity solidifies a commitment to success.commitment to success.

In a school setting, student involvement and In a school setting, student involvement and ownership in developing the vision of the school ownership in developing the vision of the school contributes to improved creativity.contributes to improved creativity.

Shared Vision & Long-Range Shared Vision & Long-Range Planning Planning

The process takes time!The process takes time!

The results will be practical and relevant The results will be practical and relevant when carefully implemented with all when carefully implemented with all stakeholders.stakeholders.

Shared Vision ApplicationShared Vision ApplicationA shared vision can be created and A shared vision can be created and

applied to a school, a district, a applied to a school, a district, a community, an organization, or any community, an organization, or any grouping of people.grouping of people.

Shared vision comes from a common Shared vision comes from a common desire to better the group. It provides desire to better the group. It provides focus and energy for learning.focus and energy for learning.

Shared Vision Application in the Shared Vision Application in the ClassroomClassroom

Passion, enthusiasm, and motivation for Passion, enthusiasm, and motivation for achieving a shared vision in the classroom are achieving a shared vision in the classroom are increased when teachers and students are full increased when teachers and students are full participants in the process of developing the participants in the process of developing the mission.mission.

http://westislandgazette.com/files/westisland/imagecache/large/images/teachers%2001.jpg.jpg

Personal Application of Shared Personal Application of Shared VisionVision

Think of a situation in your workplace that you Think of a situation in your workplace that you have a passion for that needs to be improved.have a passion for that needs to be improved.

How can you begin to establish a culture for How can you begin to establish a culture for creating a shared vision in your workplace?creating a shared vision in your workplace?

What timetable will you develop to begin your What timetable will you develop to begin your journey?journey?

Four Suggestions for ConsiderationFour Suggestions for Consideration

1. Attempt to1. Attempt topersuade people bypersuade people byrational empiricalrational empiricalargument.argument.

OR…OR…http://www.etsu.edu/math/gardner/stooges/ThreeStooges-background.jpg

Four Suggestions for ConsiderationFour Suggestions for Consideration

2. Coerce and 2. Coerce and command people command people from a position of from a position of power and authority power and authority against their will.against their will.

OR…OR…

http://www.filesavr.com/i/panda.jpg

Four Suggestions for ConsiderationFour Suggestions for Consideration

3. Immerse people 3. Immerse people in a group or culture in a group or culture that causes them to that causes them to change their old change their old norms and behavior.norms and behavior.

OR …OR …

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/143/326609731_d7d239bd06.jpg

Four Suggestions for ConsiderationFour Suggestions for Consideration

……OROR

4. Lead by example:4. Lead by example:

Threat-free and open inquiry.Threat-free and open inquiry. Encourage people to talk about their personal Encourage people to talk about their personal

vision for the work environment.vision for the work environment. Asking in concert, “Is the current situation right, Asking in concert, “Is the current situation right,

fair, just? If not, how do we aspire it to be?”fair, just? If not, how do we aspire it to be?”

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GKP2XbppQcY/RsB5-rxbzMI/AAAAAAAAAM4/1qdkKLOMGlY/s400/penguin+leader.jpg

Importance of Asking in ConcertImportance of Asking in Concert

When we ask in concert, we create what When we ask in concert, we create what Senge calls a “moral suasion, the craft of Senge calls a “moral suasion, the craft of creating a shared vision.”creating a shared vision.”

Shared Vision by BackcastingShared Vision by Backcasting Backcasting is a process Backcasting is a process

of starting from a vision of of starting from a vision of success, then looking success, then looking back to today to identify back to today to identify the most strategic steps the most strategic steps to get achieved success. to get achieved success.

It is used to describe the It is used to describe the

future scenario you would future scenario you would like to head towards and like to head towards and assess its feasibilityassess its feasibility..

Examples of Shared Vision in ActionExamples of Shared Vision in Action

School Improvement Teams share in defining School Improvement Teams share in defining and meeting the needs of a school.and meeting the needs of a school.

Parents, students, and community members Parents, students, and community members who serve on school committees facilitate who serve on school committees facilitate positive movement toward the shared vision.positive movement toward the shared vision.

Opportunities for the staff and the students to Opportunities for the staff and the students to share in school governance.share in school governance.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.

—Margaret Mead

Works CitedWorks CitedHand picture. Retrieved July 16, 1009, Eastside Apostolic Church, Web site: Hand picture. Retrieved July 16, 1009, Eastside Apostolic Church, Web site:

http://www.eastside.apo.org.nz/files/b90e6336a65beac0/folders/http://www.eastside.apo.org.nz/files/b90e6336a65beac0/folders/24/Team%20work%20hands.jpg24/Team%20work%20hands.jpg

Marx, Gary (2006). Future-Focused Leadership. Alexandria, VA: Association for Marx, Gary (2006). Future-Focused Leadership. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Outhwaite, Andrew (January 13, 2009). Backcasting. Retrieved July 16, 2009, Arise, Web Outhwaite, Andrew (January 13, 2009). Backcasting. Retrieved July 16, 2009, Arise, Web site: http://wearearising.org/news/site: http://wearearising.org/news/

Pielstick, C. Dean (1996). The Transforming Leader—A Meta-Ethnographic Analysis. Pielstick, C. Dean (1996). The Transforming Leader—A Meta-Ethnographic Analysis. Retrieved July 16, 2009, from: Retrieved July 16, 2009, from: http://oak.ucc.nau.edu/cdp8/Website/Leadership/Transforming%20Leader.htmhttp://oak.ucc.nau.edu/cdp8/Website/Leadership/Transforming%20Leader.htm

Senge, Peter (2000). A Fifth Discipline Schools that Learn, Senge, Peter (2000). A Fifth Discipline Schools that Learn, A Primer to the Five A Primer to the Five DisciplinesDisciplines. New York, NY: Doubleday. . New York, NY: Doubleday.

Southwest Educational Development Laboratories. Professional Learning Communities: Southwest Educational Development Laboratories. Professional Learning Communities: What They Are and Why Are They Important? Retrieved July 12, 2009, Free What They Are and Why Are They Important? Retrieved July 12, 2009, Free Resources, Web Site: Resources, Web Site: http://www.sedl.org/change/issues/issues61/shared_values_vision.htmlhttp://www.sedl.org/change/issues/issues61/shared_values_vision.html