MCV is passionate about helping our clients develop strategy for the future and clear, actionable plans for getting there. We design and facilitate collaborative processes that are undergirded by disciplines such as systems thinking, generative dialogue, continuous learning and shared vision. MCV programs integrate a balance between action and reflection and use elements such as graphic recording to engage all learning styles: cognitive, auditory, visual and kinesthetic. Our processes are stimulating, enriching, enjoyable and effective. Every one is custom tailored to support our client’s specific goals, culture, size and lifecycle stage.
We listen and get to know you. Then we partner with you to design a collaborative process that will be as integral to your ultimate success as the resulting plan.
We operate with the following foundational beliefs:
The greatest wisdom about how to move forward lies within the system
All voices must be heard and equally valued
A diversity of views vastly improves the outcome
Resisting the temptation to find quick solutions allows the ones that really work to emerge
Ignoring tough conversations eventually backfires
Shared commitment and accountability are the result of creating a shared picture of the future
Collaborative visioning and planning is inherently creative, inspiring, unifying and, oh yes, fun!
Typically our planning approach includes four phases:
Where You've Been
We believe that a sound plan for the future is grounded in a thorough understanding of the past. To help clients achieve this, we facilitate the creation of a History Map that allows your organization or family to tell your collective story to identify the patterns, values and principles that have driven behavior and results from the outset. The group is then able to select the patterns, values and principles that define success going forward, as well as agree upon those that no longer serve the system and are best left behind.
Where You Are
Simply put, it's hard to get where you want to go if you don't know where you are today. Our planning processes include an honest assessment of the current reality both inside the client system and in the external environment. Through learning conversations with the client, relevant advisors and staff, we identify consensus areas around what is working well, what needs to be changed, where there are common views about the future and important gaps in alignment that must be addressed.
Where You Want to Go
"If you don't know where you're going, you might end up somewhere else." This quote by the great Yogi Berra is timeless and universal in its truth. Despite this, many organizations and family enterprises resist talking about where they want to go together, unsure of how to manage diverse ideas and conflicting goals. Our shared visioning process is predicated on all voices being heard and embraces the full spectrum of viewpoints. What emerges is a picture of the future around which there is unity and shared accountability precisely because it was forged together in service of the common good.
How You're Going to Get There
Understanding where you want to go isn't much good without a plan to get there. We work with our clients to develop a structured plan for how to move from your current state to desired future state with clear goals, accountabilities and timelines.