The Vision Tree

The Vision Tree process challenges an organization to define the why behind its existence. When people understand the why their commitment level increases, and maximizes if the purpose aligns with their personal value system. They are fully engaged, passionate and energetic. Knowing and effectively communicating your core belief system is an essential first step for all organizations.

We know that the highest level of commitment to the organization occurs when there is high level clarity about both personal and organizational values (Journal of Business Ethics 1992, 12(2), 174). Shared values do make a difference.

In order for organizations to maximize the contributions of its people, steps need to be taken to clearly articulate the organization's purpose, vision, and values. Performance should be assessed relative to organizational purpose, values, and goals. Feedback needs to be offered on a regular and consistent basis. And people within the organization must be challenged to determine the congruence between their personal values, and the values of the organization.

Who: Individuals who care deeply about the success of your organization need to be present. This may include the current partners, key players, and significant contributors.

Time Frame: Two full days.

The Vision Tree:

- Creates a compelling, unified shared vision, answering the question why. - Creates 100% buy-in to the Vision/Core Purpose/Mission. - Guides the organization and creates purpose, passion, and results. - Creates a Mission Statement based on the Core Purpose and answering the how. - Increases awareness of consensus decision making, the value to team, and the ROI. - Allows participants to experience collaborative decision making and problem solving while increasing team synergy. - Builds a powerful team dynamic, sets the stage for the future, and is fun!

The Benefits:

- Every team member and the organization will have a tool to make decisions in alignment with the Worldview/Core Belief System of the organization and its founders. Each member will not only understand, but will be fully capable of using this tool as a measuring device and/or filter. - People within the organization will have the opportunity to determine if they are in alignment with the organization's Core Ideology. Can I fulfill my purpose here? - The organization will be able to identify those team members who should be “on the bus” and those who may need to be invited off the bus.

Leadership at all levels will be able to:

- Provide opportunities to take stated values and move them from words on paper to actions and decision making in every day living. - Live them out both personally and professionally - again creating alignment. - Answering the why question speaks deep into the individual at a level that generates passion, intention, innovation, and a desire for excellence fulfilling the need for motivation, alignment, direction, and purpose. - By choosing consensus decision making and having vertical representation during the process as well as in presenting the results, the likelihood of 100% buy-in organizationally increases dramatically. - Creates global cultural change which will occur naturally over time which results in integrity to who we are. - Integrity occurs with an individuals' Worldview/Core Belief System aligns with their values, which align with their behavior. - Corporate and Individual site decisions can be discussed around their alignment and misalignment to the shared Core Values and Core Purpose moving teams and individuals from knowledge to comprehension to application. - Core purpose and Core values are woven into the fabric of the company and the individuals. Natural dialogues, encouragement, and action regarding these values and purpose become part of the normal day.