Choosing to be Great

1. Choosing to be Great

2. Our Guiding Principles These principles form the foundation of our organization. They represent the best of what we aspire to in leadership, service delivery, policy, procedures, planning, work, and life.

4. Abundance We believe that all people should have the opportunity to lead full, successful, and complete lives. Those who are engaged with our organization – the people we serve, partners, employees, volunteers, and referral sources – will have an experience that is full, complete, and enriching. We commit to provide services and supports that are comprehensive, full, complete, evidence based, best practice, innovative, and successful in achieving our mission.

5. Relationships We believe that our success is based on the quality of our relationships. All interactions with individuals we serve, partners, referral sources, and each other are based on collaboration, mutual respect, and effective communications. We commit to build stable, positive, productive, mutually respectful, sustainable relationships.

6. Person-centered We believe that individual and family needs, choice, and preferences are at the heart of our organization. This belief is the driving force of all programmatic and administrative decisions. We commit to assist the people who are engaged with our organization to achieve ever- increasing levels of independence, self-sufficiency, and empowerment.

7. Stewardship We believe in and take seriously the vital nature of our work in changing lives. We make the best use of our resources, measure results, focus on outcomes, and advocate for positive change. We commit to ensure the long-term success of our mission.

8. Shared ownership We believe that our challenges, concerns, and achievements are shared and that each of us is responsible for the success of the organization. We enthusiastically share in any task, assist with any project, go above and beyond, and strive to do what is necessary to help the organization achieve its mission and goals. We commit to actively take ownership of our quest for success.

9. Questions to think about • What does this principle mean to you in your daily work and life? • How do you see applying this principle in your supervision of staff and in providing leadership in your service/work area? • What are some practical things that you could do to make this principle a reality at LFSVA? • What are some practical things that LFSVA could do to live up to this principle? • How can we make sure that this principle is reflected in all of our practices and policies? • If we truly implemented and applied this principle as an organization, how would we be different?

10. Activity In this activity, we will discuss the questions listed below. As you offer feedback, your Twitter helper will upload your comments to Twitter using the hashtags listed which coincide with the questions. Lendora will manage the main Twitter feed which is projected for you to see Use the same hashtags to keep the conversation going once you get back to your offices! Why do we choose this work? #ChooseLFSVA #Inspiration Why are you here, at THIS agency? #WhyLFSVA #Motivation What excites you about our work? #LFSVAworks #Exciting Define GREATNESS! #AGreatLFSVA #Excellence

11. Our vision A culture of excellence that enables full, successful and abundant lives for every person touched by LFSVA.