Developing Mission Statements
You will have 45 minutes to complete this task.
Put up the on the board the blue and the red colored cards that contain the questions who are we, what do we do, why do we do it, and we do we do it for.
(3 min.) Briefly review the task with the group…"We are to develop a draft mission statement for this group. The process we will use will answer the four questions you see posted. We will get each person's input and then organize it into a mission statement. We have about 30 minutes to do this task; then we will take some time to reflect on our work."
(5-8 min.) Instruct participants that shortly you'd like them to reflect on the four questions and record their responses. Remind them that it is okay to have more than one response per question. When recording your answers, please use the magic markers and the white half sheets of paper. Remember to "write big, one idea per card, and limit responses to 3-5 words"
(5 min) Once everyone has finished writing on their cards, ask for a volunteer to come forward, post their work, and read through their input. Continue this process until each person has posted and spoken to their input.
(5 min) Once everyone has finished writing on their cards, ask for a volunteer to come forward, post their work, and read through their input. Continue this process until each person has posted and spoken to their input.
(15 min) Next, lead the group in a discussion of the four questions. As oyu agree on the theme(s) write it on the flipchart. When you get to questions that have multiple themes, ask the group to help you organize and name the themes. (Use the same method you learned in the workshop method to organize and name the themes.) Your final product should be a flipchart page that says:
Who are we? (Usually, naming the group is easy and quick)What do we do? (Typically, you will have to do a mini organize and name step and then list 3-5 things the group does.)
Why do we do it? (Usually this ends up being one or two statements.)
Who do we do it for? (Again, usually this step names the customers)
When you have completed, lead a mini discussion to help the group reflect on their work. (Use the questions below.)
Objective:
Can I have a volunteer read through the flipchart page that summarizes our work?
Reflective:
What are your reactions to our work?
What part most excites you or pulls you in?
Interpretive:
What do you see as the key thing(s) that we do?
What do you see as the values being expressed in our work?
Decisional:
What can we do to make sure this mission remains our focus in our meetings?
Ask who would volunteer to briefly present the group's work to the other group?
Thank participants for their participation and close the activity. Next, each group will review the other groups' work.