What are we Transforming our Heroes into?

This question haunted me. What ARE we transforming our heroes into? At the time I was working for a Unitarian Church as the Engagement Specialist. I came across a book called Simple Church by Thom S. Rainer. It was geared toward religious communities, but the question was a great one. In education and project management they often say, "Start with the end in mind" and that works great for organizations also. So if I am running a karate studio, what do I hope my students will look like at the end of the program? Will they have a black belt? Are they able to teach? Maybe it is about helping them to be successful in life. Depending on your answer to that question, it changes what your organization and program will look like. If your goal as a karate instructor is to prepare your students for life, then your activities, lectures, and tests should be connected to that goal.

I work at a community college. We are often looking at who are our heroes. Who are the people we would like to help and what are some ways to help them be successful students. What we don't ask very often is "What are we transforming our students into?" Transfer students? Graduates? This is not a very engaging story. Tell me, does this story inspire you, "We are cheaper than a four-year university!" Not really. It sounds like a chore that I need to get out of the way, and many of my students treat it the same way. But how about this invitation, "We will help you become an Innovator and a Change Maker in a complex world!" I want to become an innovator. I would love to go to a school where I develop skills for life. I think MIT has that same story.

So as you think about your organization, explore the question and ask yourself, "What are you transforming your heroes into?"