What would your school or organization look like when you accomplish all the things you set out to do? That is a question I would put out to our teachers and student leaders everywhere I've been. I've asked it while serving in leadership roles I've had outside of education as well. It's a critical conversation that great teams aren't afraid to have over time. With good leadership acting as a facilitator, you can get input AND find the common ground . At the end of the conversation, you are left with an agreed upon description of how the team wants their organization to look. In my world of culture building, I call this description your VISION.
I've been told by many that vision setting is a waste of time, which hurts my heart. When I was young, I was taught to picture things as you want them. I would have never made it out of intensive care if I didn't have an idea of what I become. Teams are no different; they need a road map that clearly shows the destination. Vision allows everyone on the team to move forward in a common direction that everyone has helped define. You wouldn't build a house without a solid foundation, nor would you want to build a culture without a sound base. Once a shared vision is constructed, your team can start its journey to being great. . Leadership is all about being intentional; if we want to be a first class organization, we need to know what it looks like. The answer lies in asking the right question.