Meandering Mind - Eva Dillner [10]
While ruminating on this book, I was asked to help a therapy organization with their strategy and vision. I began an email interactive, iterative correspondence with the instructors and business minds of the organization. To summarize the work and to engage the entire membership in the process I wrote an article for their newsletter. I have included some of it here as it so well illustrates the headline game process. To make the exercise more universal I used ABC instead of the therapy name. As you read through, just insert your own life issue into the exercise.
Vision and Strategy
Your President asked me to help out on the strategic thinking for ABC. In the first go around we involved a smaller group consisting mainly of instructors. This has helped start the process and dialogue. I see this as an iterative process and would like to involve the entire membership. In this way we can really tap the potential of the whole group and I believe it will stimulate dialogue and get the creative juices flowing to really get ABC out there in the world in a way that is synergistic with the people actually doing it.
Typically we think of strategy and vision statements as a top down thing - something that is the territory of an elite few. But I believe that a vision that is formed by tapping the passion of the entire organization is a much more powerful force. Because everyone is part of the plan, and is involved in creating it. When we get to work for ideas and ideals that are close to our hearts, we are truly motivated.
For a start, I reviewed the documents - Business Plan, First Thoughts on a Strategy and Articles of Association. The amount of work put in over the years to move ABC forward is considerable and in the process much wisdom has been gathered. Putting my thinking cap on and letting inspiration work it's magic I sent out my first request:
My hope is to harvest your collective wisdom into a clear strategy and vision for ABC. Once the goal is clear, the detail business planning at the local level can fall into place easily. I look at it a bit like laying a puzzle, you need to have an idea what it's supposed to look like before you can put it together.
Let's start with the assumption that anything is possible. What is your deepest wish for ABC? What, in your wildest fantasy could happen? What legacy would you like to leave with ABC at the center?
A fun exercise to get in touch with possible visions, is what I call the headline game. Imagine it's five, ten or twenty years into the future. What headline do you see in the news about ABC? If you like to draw or meditate, utilize those tools to help you get in touch with your imagination mind. Ask yourself, from the deepest part of your soul, what am I to be a part of? What wants to happen with ABC? Then jot down the headlines that pop into your mind. As with any brainstorming, ask your censoring mind to go on vacation. Our analytical minds will have plenty to do later when we get into the detail planning. Now the focus is on vision, strategy, dreaming and ideas. So let your creative self dream and send me back one or more headlines, as many as you wish. Then we'll have an iterative discussion to hone those imaginations into a cohesive whole. An ABC Vision!
Never mind what you think it should be - what is in your heart? Where is your passion with ABC? What excites you? Where is your growth with ABC? Look ahead, if you could choose any role to play in ABC, what would you focus on and what headline would describe that?
Here are the headlines that came back in the first go-around:
“ABC changed my life,” say 50 of the world's most influential leaders
ABC wins award for most innovative and inspiring training
Demand for ABC therapy at all time high, as people delve deeper into their emotional lives
ABC opens 30th worldwide centre, where anyone can drop in for information