The Warriors Voice

It’s been a while since I’ve spoken in this forum, either by blog or podcast. It turns out that I was on a hiatus and taking a much needed break to reflect, regroup and recharge. However I’m now back in motion and actively pursuing my journey.

Part of what I have realized, through this break, is that I was not necessarily clear about why and what I wanted for my self in this journey. With out knowing where I wanted to go, or how I wanted to travel it ended up being a bit of a ‘merry-go-round’. So I decided to start this next piece of the journey by discovering and identifying what this currently looks like and that the best tool I know to help me with this is the model of creating Vision, Mission and Values statements.

The area of Vision, Mission, and Values has a great number of disparate views and ideas put on it. I have spend may sessions developing these for different organizations and have spent as much time with the groups of these organizations agreeing on what these terms mean. So to that end I will give you the definitions that I will use for my process around this. If you have other definitions or disagree with my definitions that is fine, but it is important for the parties involved in strategic planning to have the same base that they will work from.

Please note that in my definitions they often refer to organizations or groups. Vision, Mission and Values can be personal (to guide your self), group (to guide a project), Corporate or any combination. So when define these be clear on what you are defining for. For the purpose of this exercise I am trying to define ‘my’ Vision, Mission and Values.

Definitions:

• Vision statements
  • Describe an ideal future.
  • Reflect the essence of the organization’s values.
  • Answer the question, what impact do we/I want to have on society?
  • Unite an organization in a common, coherent and strategic direction.
  • Convey a larger sense of organizational purpose, so that individuals see themselves as “building a cathedral” rather than “laying stones”.
• Mission statements

• Describe the overall purpose of an organization or group: what we do, who we do it for, how and why we do it.
• Set the boundaries of the organization’s current activities.

In other words:

VALUES – are the qualities I want to invite into my life.

VISION – is my desired ‘goal’ or ‘milestone’, it where I want to end up next.

MISSION – what I will do to make that vision a reality and the values describe how I will carry out my mission.

Starting with Values I can the develop my Vision which these values can help dictate. From the Vision I can then create my mission to help me create my vision.

What are my Values and how to they create my Beliefs?

Values can be adjective which describe qualities or characteristics you admire and value. For example Confidence, Honesty, Love, Supportive. Values can also be objects like Family, Community and others.

Values then form your beliefs. If you value confidence then people who exhibit confidence will appear valuable to you. As stated above true Values don’t change over time. Desires, wants and needs can change dramatically as we go through our live but values remain.

• Your beliefs must meet your goals, organizational goals as well as community goals.
• Your beliefs are a statement of your values.
• Your beliefs are a public/visible declaration of your expected outcomes. “Be the change you wish to see in the world”
• Your beliefs must be precise and practical.
• Your beliefs will guide the actions of all involved.
• Your beliefs reflect the knowledge, philosophy, and actions of all.

Creating a Vision

When visioning the ‘change’ I ask my self, “What is my preferred future? While I feel in to the answers around this I need to be sure to:

• Describe what I want to see in the future.
• Be specific to each organization or in this case myself
• Be positive and inspiring.
• Do not assume that the system will have the same framework as it does today.
• Be open to dramatic modifications to current organization, methodology, teaching techniques, facilities, etc.

While the process and outcomes of Visioning can be nebulous and or vague and also seem superfluous the long term benefits are substantial.

Visioning can:

• Breaks you out of boundary thinking.
• Provides continuity and avoids the stutter effect of planning fits and starts.
• Identifies direction and purpose.
• Alerts stakeholders to needed change.
• Promotes interest and commitment.
• Promotes laser-like focus.
• Encourages openness to unique and creative solutions.
• Encourages and builds confidence.
• Builds loyalty through involvement (ownership).
• Results in efficiency and productivity.

There are also several factors which can inhibit and prevent vision coming forward:

• Tradition
• Fear of ridicule
• Stereotypes of people, conditions, roles and governing councils
• Complacency of some stakeholders
• Fatigued leaders
• Short-term thinking
• “Naysayers”

Developing a Mission Statement

Once you have clarified your Values and beliefs and used them in defining a Vision, and then build on them to define your mission statement which is a statement of purpose and function.

• Your mission statement draws on your belief statements.
• Your mission statement must be future oriented and portray your self, group and or organization as it will be.
• Your mission statement must focus on one common purpose.
• Your mission statement must be specific to the organization, not generic.
• Your mission statement must be a short statement, not more than one or two sentences.

Here is an example mission statement: “By providing quality education, we empower individuals to become caring, competent, responsible citizens who value education as a lifelong process.”

Finally and example of all three statements

The Canadian Cancer Society

Values

These serve as guidelines for our conduct and behaviour as we work towards our vision.

• Quality – our focus is on the people we serve (cancer patients, their families, donors, and the public) and we will strive for excellence through evaluation and continuous improvement.
• Caring – we are committed to serving with empathy and compassion.
• Integrity – we are committed to act in an ethical, honest manner.
• Respect – we believe that all people should be treated with consideration and dignity. We cherish diversity.
• Responsiveness – we strive to be accessible, flexible, transparent, and to demonstrate a sense of urgency in our resolve and decision-making.
• Accountability – we are committed to measuring, achieving and reporting results, and to using donor dollars wisely.
• Teamwork – we are committed to effective partnerships between volunteers and staff, and we seek opportunities to form alliances with others.

Vision

Creating a world where no Canadian fears cancer.

Mission

The Canadian Cancer Society is a national, community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is the eradication of cancer and the enhancement of the quality of life of people living with cancer.

Finally:

This is part one of my process which is defining the parameters and guidelines that I will use to create these tools for my self. As stated above it is important to agree on terminology and definitions so that they can be guides and not hindrances. I will post each piece of the process as I go through it and share any thoughts or revelations which I encounter. I encourage you to do the same and would be interested in hearing from you around any parts of this that you wish to share.

Walk in peace,

Warrior Jevon: In-Service

Sources:

Much of the material here has been ‘mined’ from other sources and I have included the websites used in this documents creation. There are many resources on this topic in the form of websites, books, tapes, CD’s, Workshops and I find that I pick and chose from each source the pieces that fit my current process. Thanks to all those who have done this work before me and are helping to guide me.

Creating a Vision – http://www.nsba.org/sbot/toolkit/cav.html

CharityVillage.com – http://www.charityvillage.com/cv/research/rstrat34.html

How to Write a Personal Mission Statement – http://busybeemama.com/2007/08/02/how-to-write-a-personal-mission-statement/