Community organizations nationwide are in search of methods that help them achieve measurable results for the children and families they serve. Sometimes these organizations seek like-minded partners in order to reach common goals. Partnerships are formed. Meetings are held. But to what end? Too often, these meetings are held without a clear, common, and measurable result in mind. Over time meeting attendance falls and partners end up falling short of achieving their goals.
What causes these well-intentioned efforts to flounder? Perhaps what the members thought was a common purpose was actually more of a general idea – one open to multiple interpretations. When this happens, collaborative efforts are likely to fail. Without a common vision measurable results are unlikely to occur.
