Connect the Dots
Introduction
You've got individual partners who have agreed to come to the table, but how do you meld them all together into a unified team?
Creating a partnership is no simple task. Partners come with different motivations, values and ideas. In this activity, you'll learn how to create a strong start for your team. See how you can connect the dots to create a single vision!
Scenario: Knitting together visions
How does his vision...
"We need to give kids a place to hang out so they're not loitering near my business. I pick up empty beer cans in my parking lot every night."
And her vision...
"Kids who feel like they are valued by the community are going to be better students and not get involved in underage drinking."
And your vision…
"My daughter told me about a recent party where kids were drinking even though the parents were home. I'm worried somebody is going to get hurt."
Become One Vision?
It happens when you connect the dots.
Vision is the Starting Point for Collaboration
Early in the process of bringing your group together, you should establish a group vision. The group's vision is a detailed description of the desired future: what will it look like if you are successful?
You also need to show them how the group's work will produce those desired changes. The by-products of a solid vision are:
- Clarity: group members know exactly what they are working toward
- Motivation: group members can see the prize at the end of the race
- Collaboration: group members can see how their personal desires mesh with the bigger picture
Activity
Sherry is a concerned mom who has pulled together members from the community with the goal of reducing underage drinking in the community. She wants the group to be clear and unified in their vision. In this activity, you will help her draw out and express a vision for the team.
Why Are You Here?
The meeting is getting started and Sherry says, "This issue is important to each of us for different reasons. Tell me why you're here."
First, click each member to hear how he or she responds. Then drag a question mark to any member whose response should raise a question in Sherry's mind. You must identify all of the "questionable" responses before you move on.
|
Community Member
|
Statement | Feedback |
|---|---|---|
|
1
|
I'm a dad and I want to live in a community that cares about kids. |
This statement doesn't specifically mention the problem of underage drinking, but it does show that this man is authentically concerned and looking for a way to make a difference. You can put that kind of passion to work, for sure! |
|
2
|
We have a grant mandate from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) to take action in this area, with an emphasis on enforcing underage drinking laws. |
Yes, this response raises questions. You may know why she feels she needs to be here, but you don't know if she wants to be here. Ask a probing question to draw out how the grant aligns with her personal passion. You might hear something more meaningful like this, "If we can mitigate the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), we can reduce the early initiation of alcohol use." |
|
3
|
I'm a business woman and I think the negative press about this issue is impacting Main Street. |
While this woman's comment might sound a bit more financially motivated than the other comments, it is still a solid reason for being part of the group. She doesn't like the negative impact underage drinking is having on the community. She has a legitimate and personal motivation to help the group succeed. |
|
4
|
My supervisor told me to come to this meeting. |
You're right. A comment like this should catch your attention. An individual who is "forced" to attend may be less zealous or less informed about the topic than you want. You may need to spend a little extra time with him to help him discover why he cares. You could ask a probing question such as, "Why do you think your supervisor chose you? Does he realize that you have an interest in this work?" |
|
5
|
I'm a principal and we are seeing more problems with this at school events like homecoming and prom. |
Underage drinking is obviously causing some real headaches for this principal. He's close to the problem and he feels the pain. He's an ideal member for your group. |
Why Are You Here?
Five more members respond to Sherry's inquiry.
Click each member to hear what he or she has to say. Then drag a question mark to any member whose response should raise a question in Sherry's mind. You must identify all of the "questionable" responses before you move on.
|
Community Member
|
Statement | Feedback |
|---|---|---|
|
6
|
I don't really know why I'm here. [laughs nervously] |
Hmm. You're right, that is odd. Maybe he smelled a fresh pot of coffee brewing and just wandered in to sit for a while, but chances are there's more going on with this person than his response indicates. Some members will be shy or not want to speak up for fear of being wrong. Focus on creating an environment that allows for open communication, but doesn't put any one individual on the spot. You could say, "Why don't you listen to the discussion and we can check in again at the end of the meeting?" |
|
7
|
We got a grant and it is turning out to be the spark we need to move forward on tackling this as a community! |
No. This individual has enthusiasm to burn. You just need to find a way to harness it. |
|
8
|
Our organization works to improve kids' health and safety. Underage drinking undermines both of these goals. |
No. This individual's reason for being here is strong and pure. There doesn't appear to be any reason for concern. |
|
9
|
I think this problem is too complex for our organization to handle alone. I believe we can have a greater impact if we work with a larger group on this. |
No. This response is honest and reflects her personal concern. Nothing about this response raises a red flag. |
|
10
|
I heard that you got a grant, and I'm working with another group that would really benefit by tapping into some of your funding. I'm hoping you can help us. |
Correct. This comment should catch your attention. There may be an opportunity for your two groups to join forces and gain synergy, but be cautious about letting any single individual or another group dictate your team's direction. Refocus this individual away from resource sharing to vision setting. You could ask, "As we're talking about what we hope to accomplish together, can you describe what you would like to see?" |
Finding Shared Interests
In the previous exercise, you identified following community members as potential partners: 1,3,5,7,8,9. Review the statements you heard. Then try to identify some shared interests common to the group members. This will help you to create a shared vision in the next part of the activity.
|
Community Member
|
Statement |
|---|---|
|
1
|
I'm a dad and I want to live in a community that cares about kids. |
|
3
|
I'm a business woman and I think the negative press about this issue is impacting Main Street. |
|
5
|
I'm a principal and we are seeing more problems with this at school events like homecoming and prom. |
|
7
|
We got a grant and it is turning out to be the spark we need to move forward on tackling this as a community! |
|
8
|
Our organization works to improve kids' health and safety. Underage drinking undermines both of these goals. |
|
9
|
I think this problem is too complex for our organization to handle alone. I believe we can have a greater impact if we work with a larger group on this. |
Check out the possible shared interests in the first column; see the feedback in the second column.
What are shared interests that you see in the group?
|
Possible shared interests
|
Feedback
|
|---|---|
|
Our community's parents care about underage drinking. |
Correct |
|
Some of our organizations see this problem as within their mission. |
Correct |
|
We all care about our community's public image. |
Incorrect |
|
Underage drinking is negatively affecting both the schools and the community. |
Correct |
If the feedback indicated that you were Incorrect, you missed one or more of the shared interests here.
These are all good examples, with the exception of the statement that everyone "cares about the community's public image." That thought is too general and it's not going to inspire the team! A common theme should enthuse and motivate the team.
It's best to look for broad concepts that unite people, such as concern about the effect of underage drinking. You can then add details about its effects both at school events or in the community in general.
Don't be so specific as to exclude members. For example, not everyone who cares about kids is a parent. That's why it is helpful to frame up common interests from a few angles rather than in a single statement.
If the feedback indicated that you were Correct, you did a great job identifying interests that individuals share.
When looking for overlap, it's important to think of broad concepts that unite people, such as concern about the effect of underage drinking. You can then add details about its effects both at school events or in the community in general.
Don't be too general. Saying that everyone "cares about the community's public image" is not going to inspire the team! A common theme should enthuse and motivate the team.
In contrast, don't be so specific as to exclude members. For example, not everyone who cares about kids is a parent. That's why it is helpful to frame up common interests from a few angles rather than in a single statement.
Stating the Vision
Now that you have found shared interests that bind this group together, it's time to help the group articulate a vision that they all share. Here are some possible vision statements that the group is considering. Select the statement in the first column that you think is best, see the feedback in the second column.
What statement best represents the group's vision?
|
Possible Vision Statements
|
Feedback
|
|---|---|
|
We want to work together to stop underage drinking. |
Incorrect |
|
We want to reduce underage drinking for the benefit of our whole community. |
Correct |
|
We want to reduce the number of parent-sponsored parties that allow underage drinking. |
Incorrect |
|
We want to implement a program that teaches parents how to talk to their kids about underage drinking. |
Incorrect |
If the feedback indicated that you were Incorrect, there is a better choice.
"We want to reduce underage drinking for the benefit of our whole community." is a vision statement that strikes a perfect balance between being broad enough, but not too broad. It also paints a positive vision of what the group wants to accomplish.
Common pitfalls to avoid include writing vision statements that:
- Are way too broad or way too specific
- Are too verbose or cliché; this is the time for simplicity, not wordsmithing
- Point blame at individuals who might be causing the problem
- Include details about how you will solve the problem
If the feedback indicated that you were Correct, you made a good choice.
"We want to reduce underage drinking for the benefit of our whole community." is a vision statement that strikes a perfect balance between being broad enough, but not too broad. It also paints a positive vision of what the group wants to accomplish.
Common pitfalls to avoid include writing vision statements that:
- Are way too broad or way too specific
- Are too verbose or cliché; this is the time for simplicity, not wordsmithing
- Point blame at individuals who might be causing the problem
- Include details about how you will solve the problem
Conclusion
Once you have a dedicated group of like-minded partners gathered together, it's time to create a shared vision. This process requires you to look for common bonds and positive connections.
Vision statements aren't long or complicated, but the discussion surrounding the creation of that statement is essential. That conversation is an opportunity for team members to open up to each other about their personal drives and passions. It forms a foundation of trust and affinity within the group.
This is a chance not only to see what team members have in common, but also to identify the distinctions among members, and determine what each individual can contribute to the goals.