Recognizing Compelling Purpose

In Extraordinary Groups, Geoff Bellman and I offer a set of core concepts as a lens, through which you can see and be in groups differently. So that you can consciously take action to support your group’s ability to be high performing.

Today, I’d like to begin a series of blog posts that will make our lens metaphor much more concrete. Over the next few weeks, I’ll share lists of behavioral statements, tied to the eight indicators of extraordinary groups, that you can use to scan and better understand the groups you lead, facilitate, or participate in as a member. 

By way of background, one of the reasons why I’ve not blogged since early January is that I’ve been quite occupied with the development of what will become a reliable and valid survey tool based on our extraordinary group concepts. I have the good fortune to be working with Kevin Coray of Coray Gurnitz Consulting and Keiko Ozeki who is enrolled in both a Master’s and Doctoral program at Seattle University. The three of us have been working diligently (and, by the way, as a virtual team) to identify behavioral statements that would demonstrate elements of an extraordinary group. We’re close to producing our first draft, which we will start testing in late March. If you are interested in learning more about this project, please send a note and I’ll get back to you with more information. 

Here we go. For each of the items on this list, use either one of these question sets as a frame for your lens:

• On a scale of 1-5, with 5 being very frequently, how often do you observe members of your group behaving in this way? OR
• Which of these behaviors represent strengths of your group? Which ones, if paid more attention to, would greatly enhance your group’s ability to be high performing?

Compelling Purpose is the first on our list of indicators of exceptional groups.  It is an inspiring and shared understanding of why group members come together.  In an extraordinary group, you’ll know that the group’s Compelling Purpose is alive and well when members frequently behave in these ways. Members…

• Talk about the importance of their common purpose and why it is personally meaningful
• Regularly remind themselves of their purpose when making decisions, focusing agendas, or developing plans 
• Set aside personal preferences in order help the group move ahead with its work
• Do what’s necessary to help the group be successful, even when that is outside a person’s normal role
• Come to meetings prepared, on time, and stay til the end
• Do what they say they will do because they are inspired by the group’s purpose
• Let each other know when they cannot meet deadlines for commitments
• Take action that supports the work of others in the group when they need help
• Change their opinions because of something said by another member
• Express appreciation for what the group is accomplishing

For further thought:  What other behaviors could you add to this list, that would be signs that one of your groups was truly outstanding? What themes do you see in this list?  What could you do or say in your role as a group member, leader, or facilitator to encourage any of these behaviors?