Vision & Purpose With Ian Tyson
Welcome back Leaders! It’s time for another school year, filled with events, activities, classes, wins, losses and loads of lessons. This time of year has always been exciting for me, both when I was a young student leader myself, and now as a professional speaker. It’s time to get back to it, and the newness, and clean slate is invigorating.
As leaders, you all pull double-duty, being both a student, and having all the workload and responsibilities that come with that, and being a leader in your school, helping to guide, engage and hopefully inspire others to share your enthusiasm for being involved. And that… is where things can tricky for some people, figuring out what you want the school and the year to look like, and then executing that. It takes clarity, of Vision and a strong sense of Purpose, and more than a small dash of something else; Intention.
Let me break it down for you, the way I see it:
Vision is what you see. The picture in your mind (as an individual and a group) of what you want the year and the school itself to look like. The spirit, the participation and the engagement. It’s the success you want to have happen.
Purpose is what drives you. It’s the internal gas tank, the thing that fuels you to accomplish the stated vision, it’s your Why. Why you chose to volunteer and dedicate yourself to student leadership in the first place.
Intention is what you bring to the equation. Your energy. The imperceptible thing that both pushes you and drives others to follow you. Your intention introduces you, long before your handshake ever will.
In order to function well as team, a council, a class, a club or whatever form leadership takes at your school, you need to be aware of these things for the individuals, but also should have some alignment of a group version of each of these as well.
Finding clarity of Vision for your year, as a group is paramount. It lays out the plan, the endgame, the guardrails and roadmap. Sit down and talk it out; it can be as easy as “what do we all want to see for this year at our school?” Everyone write it down, and focus on the areas of overlap.
Once you establish Vision, Purpose should follow, as it should become apparent though discussion what is driving everyone to the goal. If you’re able, have them on the wall where everyone can see them and is reminded regularly.
Intention will be more of an individual thing, but everyone needs to be aware of it. Being able to ask the question: “What is the Intention we are going to bring to this event?” - speak it aloud so that you all know. The differences in personal Intention can be utilized in the assignment of tasks and roles. The more someone’s role matches their Intention, the more the job will make their heart sing and that will be on full display for all to see.
Keep these 3 key things in mind as you start the year, and see if you can’t find that alignment together and create a momentum that will be unstoppable!! Have a great year and we will see you out there!!
Ian Tyson
@iantyson
Comments