“Engaging U”
Supervisory Certificate Program
Inspire a Shared Vision
Participant Workbook
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this session participants will:
• Clarify their sense of purpose as a leader
• Understand the elements of a shared vision
• Create a working draft of a vision statement
• Develop a plan for enlisting others to realize the vision
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“I Have a Dream”
As you listen to Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speech, take notes on what
makes it an inspiring presentation. Pay attention to what Dr. King says and
to the communication methods and styles he uses.
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What Is A Vision?
A vision projects a clear image of a possible future. It generates energy
and enthusiasm to strive forward to the destination.
A vision is an IDEAL and UNIQUE IMAGE of the FUTURE for the
COMMON GOOD.
Inspiring visions include the following components:
• IDEAL (a high standard to aspire to). Visions are about making a
difference. They are about hopes, dreams and aspirations. They tell us
the ennobling purpose and greater good.
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UNIQUE (an identity, pride in being different). Visions are about the
extraordinary. They are about what makes us distinctive and unequaled.
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• IMAGE (a concept or mental picture made real or tangible through
descriptive language). Word pictures, metaphors, examples, stories,
symbols and similar communication methods all help make visions
memorable.
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• FUTURE-ORIENTED (looking toward a destination). Visions stretch our
minds out into the future and ask us to dream. They describe an exciting
possibility for the future.
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• COMMON GOOD (a way people can come together). Visions are about
developing a shared sense of destiny. Leaders must be able to show
others how their interests are served and how they are a part of the vision
in order to enlist them in achieving it.
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“Leadership is knowing what the right thing to do is, and creating conditions where others also recognize and want to do that thing.” ~ James Kouzes and Barry Posner, The Leadership Challenge, 4th edition 6
My Values
These are some of my key values, beliefs and principles as a leader:
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“It’s not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.” ~ Roy Disney 7
Determine the “Something” You Want To Do
Are you here to do something, or are you here for something to do?
• How would I like to change the world for myself and for Drexel?
• How would I like to be remembered?
• If I could invent the future, what would it look like for me and Drexel?
• What mission in life absolutely obsesses me?
• What’s my dream about my work?
• What’s my most distinctive skill or talent?
• What’s my burning passion?
• What work do I find absorbing, involving and enthralling?
• What will happen in ten years if I remain absorbed, involved and enthralled
in that work?
• What does my ideal “Drexel” look like?
• What’s my personal agenda? What do I want to prove?
“A vision is not just a picture of what could be; it is an appeal to our better selves, a call to become something more.” ~ Rosabeth Moss Kanter 8
My Purpose
What do I want to accomplish?
Why is this important?
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“A leader has the vision and conviction that a dream can be achieved. He inspires the power and energy to get it done.” ~ Ralph Lauren 9
Discover a Common Purpose
Who has a stake in achieving your vision? What are their hopes, dreams
and aspirations? A shared vision exists where your personal vision
connects with the visions of others.
Write down the people you want to enlist in achieving your vision and your
thoughts on how to connect with them:
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“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” ~ John Quincy Adams 10
Articulate Your Vision
Now you will begin to clarify your vision of the future. Use the questions
below to select the distinctive qualities of your vision. These are the
qualities that will move others.
• IDEAL What is your ideal work community? What is your dream about
your work? What do you absolutely believe in or feel passionately about?
Describe the perfect realization of your vision.
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• UNIQUE What qualities make the future of Drexel distinctive, one of a
kind? What would make people proud? What would make it stand out and
be different from everything else? What distinctive legacy would you like to
leave behind?
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• IMAGE What is your vision like? What symbol, metaphor or simile, image,
example or picture most vividly represents your ideal and unique future?
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• FUTURE-ORIENTED To make sure your ideal and unique image is for the
long term, ask yourself, “What are the trends that are propelling my vision?”
As you look out five to ten years, what developments and changes do you
see in your industry, your employees, your organizational partners and your
customers or clients?
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• COMMON GOOD Who are your key constituents? What values and goals
do they share? What does your vision offer them? How will you need to
shape your vision so that it appeals to all of your key constituents?
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I Have a Dream …
Use this space to write a statement of your ideal and unique image of the
future for the common good.
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Next Steps Toward Realizing My Vision
What will you do next to develop and communicate your vision? Use this
space to record your ideas and commitments. Be as specific as you can
about what you will do and when.
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Resources
Recommended books on vision and leadership
DePree, M. (2004). Leadership Is An Art. Doubleday, New York, NY
DePree, M. (1992). Leadership Jazz. Dell Publishing, New York, NY.
George, B. (2007) True North. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., San Francisco, CA.
Kouzes, J.M. & Posner, B.Z. (2007) The Leadership Challenge. John Wiley & Sons,
Inc., San Francisco, CA.
Zander, R.S. & Zander, B. (2000). The Art of Possibility. Harvard Business School
Press, Boston, MA.
Human Resources picks for “Books that have inspired me...”
The Story of My Life, Helen Keller
Long Walk to Freedom, Nelson Mandela
The Prophet, Kahlil Gibran
The Diving Bell and The Butterfly, Jean-Dominique Bauby
If Hospitals Could Fly, John J. Nance
Shoeless Joe, W.P. Kinsella
Leadership 101, John C. Maxwell
17 Essential Qualities Of A Team Player, John C. Maxwell
The Fred Factor, Mark Sanborn
The Chosen, Chaim Potok
The Phantom Tollbooth, Norton Juster
The Right Words At The Right Time, Marlo Thomas
A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens
The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupery
The Sirens of Titan, Kurt Vonnegut
The Little Engine That Could, Watty Piper
What books (or movies, or art or places) have inspired YOU?
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Discovering A Common Purpose
Here are some questions you might ask to understand the hopes and
dreams of others who have a stake in achieving your vision:
• If you could create an ideal “Drexel”, what would it look like?
• What are the qualities that would make Drexel a great place to work?
• Describe the kind of organization that’d make you say, “I can’t wait to go to
work there.”
• As you look ahead five or ten years, tell me about the kind of organization,
community or world you would like to see.
• What are your hopes and dreams for you and your family?
• What keeps you awake at night?
• What drives you to do the very best you know how?
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SAMPLE VISION: The Heartbeat Of The Valley
Maureen Saltzer Brotherton, General Manager of The Valley Times in Pleasanton,
California, shared her vision with co-workers when they had reached a significant
circulation milestone:
“I want to see us truly be the winning team. Be the First Choice, the only good local
choice. Be the heartbeat of the Valley.
“When we win, our readers win – they’ll get more of everything, because we will have
the space to give it to them. When we win, our advertisers win – they’ll get results,
because we will have the loyal readers to bring them those results. When we win, our
carriers and circulation staff win – because routes will be lucrative enough that we will
have a carrier waiting list in every district. When we win, our editorial staff wins because
they’ll have space for all their meaningful, in-depth and exciting stories. Our
photographers will have room to truly showcase their art. When we win, our salespeople
win – because these business emissaries will have happy customers, and more
customers. When we win, we will even find the time to thank those who usually go
thankless, our support staffs. When we win, we will be the pulse of the Valley – with the
image, market share and financial rewards that come to winners.
“And we will win. We will be the Valley’s heartbeat. But only because of you….You
already offer so much. And you can offer more to hurry us on the way: Sell the extra ad,
get all the papers out on the customers’ porches, scramble for those award-winning
photos and stories. Keep on scooping the Herald. Most of all, help each other on the
way. I’ll be there with you, every step of that way – listening to your frustrations, acting
on your requests, backing up your needs with concrete support, keeping y our paths as
clear as I possibly can.
“Together we are the winning team that will make The Valley Times the heartbeat of the
Valley.”
Excerpted from The Leadership Challenge
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