Hub - values, vision, goals
The hub represents the heart of a group's operation. The key variables in the hub are the group’s core values, its shared vision & common goals. The group may explicitly communicate its values and vision through statements of strategic intent, group goals and key principles. Individuals within the group show evidence of the group’s values and goals through their behaviour.
A group that has a consistent, shared sense of core values, a clearly understood, agreed upon purpose and common goals is likely to demonstrate progress in a common direction. Conversely a group that lacks clarity in its purpose, goals or demonstrates inconsistency in its core values, is likely to flounder showing signs of dysfunction as it struggles with issues associated with its direction & purpose.
The wheel model helps us visualise the impact of a faulty hub/core values on wheel function/group effectiveness. With a weak hub the wheel falls apart, just like a group will fall apart if they do not share the same core values.
Group effectiveness is enhanced when members spend time on formulating and sharing an understanding of the values, intent and goals of the group.
Key points to remember are:
- Engaging individuals in cooperative discussion in relation to these variables will enhance clarity & understanding, and promote responsibility & commitment to common directions and achievement.
- Goals must be clear & specific, relevant & realistic, achievable & measurable and the operational steps for action need to be defined & understood by the group.
- Groups that are provided with opportunity to cooperate and to demonstrate ownership of the task develop greater synergy in achievement, higher levels of trust, support and commitment.
What student's say...
Experience 1'We had the most fantastic team. Everyone was clear on why we had entered the competition – it was to have fun and to actually have time together as friends. That didn’t mean that we all didn’t try our best to win however the results of the contest were just much less significant.'
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Experience 2'When I attended the first meeting for our work group I was so surprised at what we discussed. After the initial round the table introduction of all of the group members we then spent time discussing what was important to each of us about the way that the group worked and what we considered important in relation to the quality of the product that we were going to be producing. By the end of our discussion we were able to identify our common values and the standard of work that we would all like to achieve. All of the group members now know that we are working towards a quality product of nothing less than a credit – distinction level and that we will all demonstrate personal responsibility for making this happen'. |