Shared Vision Sandra Kreps, Andrea Paul & Yvonne Taylor

Shared Vision Is: Fostering a commitment to a common purpose. Fostering a commitment to a common purpose. The set of tools and techniques for bringing all of our unlike aspirations into alignment around the things people have in common. The set of tools and techniques for bringing all of our unlike aspirations into alignment around the things people have in common.

Shared Vision Is: (cont.) Having a concrete picture of what you want the school to look like. Having a concrete picture of what you want the school to look like. What we want to become. What we want to become. NOT just an agreed upon idea. Rather, it is a specific mental image of what is important to our school community. NOT just an agreed upon idea. Rather, it is a specific mental image of what is important to our school community.

Shared Vision Key Elements A sense of commitment is built together by a group of people working in collaboration. A sense of commitment is built together by a group of people working in collaboration. Long term and short term goals are established together as a team. Long term and short term goals are established together as a team. Application of the defined vision steps and accountability of the team for following through are key to sustainability of the shared vision. Application of the defined vision steps and accountability of the team for following through are key to sustainability of the shared vision.

Shared Vision Concepts The primary communication channel for developing and sharing vision is through informal networks. The primary communication channel for developing and sharing vision is through informal networks. The contribution process of the team must be threat-free. The contribution process of the team must be threat-free. The entire team must be able to develop and share vision without administrative or other community leader control. The entire team must be able to develop and share vision without administrative or other community leader control.

Shared Vision Concepts (cont.) The more that all stakeholders are involved in developing the vision, the greater the commitment and the shared ownership of the ideas generated by the group.

Importance of Shared Vision to the Learning Organization Shared responsibility for developing and implementing the vision leads to greater success in achieving the vision. Shared responsibility for developing and implementing the vision leads to greater success in achieving the vision. Shared responsibility and creativity solidifies a commitment to success. Shared responsibility and creativity solidifies a commitment to success. In a school setting, student involvement and ownership in developing the vision of the school contributes to improved creativity. In a school setting, student involvement and ownership in developing the vision of the school contributes to improved creativity.

Shared Vision & Long-Range Planning The process takes time! The process takes time! The results will be practical and relevant when carefully implemented with all stakeholders. The results will be practical and relevant when carefully implemented with all stakeholders.

Shared Vision Application A shared vision can be created and applied to a school, a district, a community, an organization, or any grouping of people. A shared vision can be created and applied to a school, a district, a community, an organization, or any grouping of people. Shared vision comes from a common desire to better the group. It provides focus and energy for learning. Shared vision comes from a common desire to better the group. It provides focus and energy for learning.

Shared Vision Application in the Classroom Passion, enthusiasm, and motivation for achieving a shared vision in the classroom are increased when teachers and students are full participants in the process of developing the mission. Passion, enthusiasm, and motivation for achieving a shared vision in the classroom are increased when teachers and students are full participants in the process of developing the mission. es/teachers%2001.jpg.jpg

Personal Application of Shared Vision Think of a situation in your workplace that you have a passion for that needs to be improved. Think of a situation in your workplace that you have a passion for that needs to be improved. How can you begin to establish a culture for creating a shared vision in your workplace? How can you begin to establish a culture for creating a shared vision in your workplace? What timetable will you develop to begin your journey? What timetable will you develop to begin your journey?

Four Suggestions for Consideration 1. Attempt to persuade people by rational empirical argument.OR…

Four Suggestions for Consideration 2. Coerce and command people from a position of power and authority against their will. OR…

Four Suggestions for Consideration 3. Immerse people in a group or culture that causes them to change their old norms and behavior. OR …

Four Suggestions for Consideration …OR 4. Lead by example: Threat-free and open inquiry. Threat-free and open inquiry. Encourage people to talk about their personal vision for the work environment. Encourage people to talk about their personal vision for the work environment. Asking in concert, “Is the current situation right, fair, just? If not, how do we aspire it to be?” Asking in concert, “Is the current situation right, fair, just? If not, how do we aspire it to be?” rxbzMI/AAAAAAAAAM4/1qdkKLOMGlY/s400/penguin+leader.jpg

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

Shared Vision by Backcasting Backcasting is a process of starting from a vision of success, then looking back to today to identify the most strategic steps to get achieved success. Backcasting is a process of starting from a vision of success, then looking back to today to identify the most strategic steps to get achieved success. It is used to describe the future scenario you would like to head towards and assess its feasibility. It is used to describe the future scenario you would like to head towards and assess its feasibility.

Examples of Shared Vision in Action School Improvement Teams share in defining and meeting the needs of a school. School Improvement Teams share in defining and meeting the needs of a school. Parents, students, and community members who serve on school committees facilitate positive movement toward the shared vision. Parents, students, and community members who serve on school committees facilitate positive movement toward the shared vision. Opportunities for the staff and the students to share in school governance. Opportunities for the staff and the students to 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 Cited Hand picture. Retrieved July 16, 1009, Eastside Apostolic Church, Web site: 24/Team%20work%20hands.jpg Marx, Gary (2006). Future-Focused Leadership. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Outhwaite, Andrew (January 13, 2009). Backcasting. Retrieved July 16, 2009, Arise, Web site: Pielstick, C. Dean (1996). The Transforming Leader—A Meta-Ethnographic Analysis. Retrieved July 16, 2009, from: tm Senge, Peter (2000). A Fifth Discipline Schools that Learn, A Primer to the Five Disciplines. New York, NY: Doubleday. Southwest Educational Development Laboratories. Professional Learning Communities: What They Are and Why Are They Important? Retrieved July 12, 2009, Free Resources, Web Site: