Agreeing aims: being clear about what you are trying to do

You can use this quick and simple exercise to get a group to work together to come up with an agreed set of five aims.


Preparation

  1. Print off a set of aims cards, plus a set of blank aims cards.
  2. Cut them into individual strips.
  3. Print off some top five score cards.

With the group...

  1. Introduce the idea of the exercise, and the importance of a group agreeing its aims. Refer to the group's own situation, if possible. You can use the supporting information as back up.
  2. Put all the aims cards on a table.
  3. If you are working with a large group of people, you could split it into smaller groups.
  4. Give each group a top five scorecard.
  5. Ask each group to decide on the top five in order of importance, placing them on the score cards. They can use the blank cards to write new aims (or to duplicate an aim if it's already been used up by another group).
  6. If you've split people into smaller groups, bring everyone together to compare their top five aims. Support the group to discuss any differences and agree a final top five aims.

Don't forget to look at hints and tips (Word, 29 KB).