The Wood Badge Ticket Process 1 Values Mission

The Wood Badge Ticket Process 1

Values, Mission, and Vision Which comes first, the chicken or the egg? Our values or our mission? Our mission or our vision? The truth is, values, mission, and vision are so interrelated that it is hard to say. Perhaps the diagram should look like this: 2

Values, Mission, and Vision, cont. Each aspect of the triangle affects the others. All parts of the triangle are of equal value and they all affect one another, but they do tend to fall into a pattern. First we define our values, which leads us to a mission, and from there we create a vision. Values, both organizational and personal, support both mission and vision. Think of them as the foundation on which missions and visions are built. In practice, they most often come to life as a part of the vision statement. 3

Values, Mission, and Vision Defined Each element is unique, but they all work together. • A mission statement explains the organization’s or individual’s main aim or purpose. It defines why we exist. • A vision statement expresses the organization’s or individual’s desired destination within a certain time frame. It defines where we are going. • A values statement represents the core priorities in the organization’s culture, including what drives members’ priorities and how they act within the organization. 4

The Mission and Vision of the Boy Scouts of America The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. 5 • Offer young people responsible fun and adventure. • Instill in young people lifetime values and develop in them ethical character as expressed in the Scout Oath and Law. • Train young people in citizenship, service, and leadership. • Serve America's communities and families with a quality, valuesbased program.

Mission As Scout leaders, we share the BSA’s mission, helping to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. It’s why we are here. 6

Organizational Vision and Personal Vision Although we also share the vision of Scouting, our personal vision statement will show the path of our personal “piece” of Scouting. Our personal vision describes how we as individuals are working to achieve the BSA’s mission. 7

Personal Vision Think of your personal vision as • Knowing who you are • Knowing where you’re going • Knowing what success looks like 8

Three Elements of a Personal Vision Statement 1. A Significant Purpose • Purpose is a reason for existence. • It answers the question “why” rather than just explaining what you do or being a job description. • It provides a sense of purpose that often is deep and noble. It inspires excitement and commitment. • The actual words are not nearly as important as what they mean to the people. 9

Three Elements of a Personal Vision Statement 2. Clear Values • Values provide broad guidelines on how to pursue your purpose. • They should be clearly described so you know exactly the behaviors that demonstrate that the value is being lived. • They need to be consistently acted on to be more than just good intentions. • People’s personal values need to be in line with the organization’s values. 10

Three Elements of a Personal Vision Statement 3. A Picture of the Future • Vision is a well-defined picture of the end result, something you can actually see. • Vision focuses on what you want to create —not what you want to get rid of. • Vision focuses on the product—the end result—not the process for getting there. 11

Remember, your personal vision statement is knowing: • Who you are • Where you’re going • What success looks like 12

Make Your Personal Vision a Reality For your personal vision to become reality, what’s important is • How it is created • How it is communicated • And most importantly, how it is lived! 13

Qualities of a Compelling Vision • Helps us understand what our purpose is • Provides guidelines that help us make daily decisions • Provides a picture of the desired future that we can actually see • Is enduring • Is about being “great”—not just beating the competition • Is inspiring—not expressed solely in numbers • Touches the hearts and spirits of everyone • Helps each person see how to contribute 14

Plans Support the Goals Support the Vision 15

Values, mission, and vision are all linked together. From our shared values, the BSA mission statement was developed. That mission leads to our personal vision of success. The goals are the road map to making the vision a reality. The plans are how we accomplish each goal. 16

The Wood Badge Ticket It takes all of the pieces working together to make a ticket and bring our vision to life. 17

What to Look for in a Wood Badge Ticket As a ticket counselor, you are looking for a ticket that contains each of these things: • A vision that works toward the BSA mission. • A vision that is appropriate only for the writer’s Scouting position. • A vision that is realistic. Can this ticket be completed in 18 months? • Five goals that will bring the vision to life. They should support the vision and be related to it. • One goal must deal with diversity. • One goal may be a 360 -degree self-assessment, but if so, the facilitator and participants in the process should be named before the ticket is considered complete. • The goals must be SMART. 18

SMART Goals —Specific —Measurable —Attainable —Relevant —Timely 19

A Wood Badge Ticket • Provides an opportunity to practice the skills we have learned. • Makes us think about the BSA mission and the role we play in making that a reality. • Makes us think about the end result before we even begin. • Gives us a useful planning tool to use with each new project or at the beginning of each year. • Inspires us and others to excel. If we can do all that, then the BSA mission statement becomes more than just words. Scouting becomes more than a program—it will become a way of life for millions of people across America. 20