Global Outreach Starts at Home
Choosing Your Destination
Identify the stakeholders and their interests, and then select a destination or outcome that meets or supports those interests. This is much easier to do before you set out on your journey – before you and others begin work and put some things into play that may be difficult to change later on. Think of this as planning the family vacation. Those plans usually take into consideration things like time, money, interests and obligations. You can just imagine the challenge involved with beginning a trip to Europe and deciding along the way that you really should be going to South America.
Selecting the Route
Okay. So now you know where you’re going, or at least the direction in which you want to travel. Roll out the maps and plot your course. Some modes of travel and their itineraries are more difficult or more expensive than others. Some routes include points of interest that appeal more to one traveler than to the others. What about scheduling? What time of year is best for this trip? Best for the travelers? Selecting the means of travel, the route you will follow and when you will travel sets the stage for your journey.
Mile Markers
Are we there yet? Who hasn’t heard this question a dozen times, or asked it themselves? It doesn’t matter that the final destination is a wonderful paradise, the travel itself becomes challenging and people want it to end. Be prepared! Identify mile markers along the way – places where you can pause, regroup and appreciate how far you have come. Think of these as the rest stops. Remember how much better you feel after a break and a chance to stretch? Everyone on your ‘journey’ will feel better when they can see some progress.
Emergency Service
No matter how carefully you prepare there is the possibility that something will go wrong. The car breaks down, the flight is delayed, or you miss your train. Maybe the airline you intended to fly with is going on strike, or the amusement park that was your intended destination has closed unexpectedly. What now? How do you adjust your travel plans? Who makes the decisions? Using what criteria? If you haven’t addressed these possibilities before you begin your travels you’ll lose valuable time trying to sort them out when they occur. You may even be forced to return home without completing your ‘journey’.
Footing the Bill
The first leg of the trip has been great! You’ve made better progress than anticipated and the travelers have enjoyed the trip. Now it’s time to pay the bill. What currency do you use? Who makes the payment? Does everyone pay the same amount at the same time, or do travelers pay each according to their means? This is definitely something you want to understand before you sign on for any travel.
Global Outreach Starts at Home
Activity Checklist
Identify all stakeholders
names
organizations
interests
Jointly decide on desired outcome(s)
Jointly develop timeline
Brainstorm possible models
format
content
target audience
Jointly select your model
Clearly define roles and responsibilities
Capture in writing the deliverables for each party to the project
Establish guidelines for future decision-making
Develop a detailed budget
investment
revenue
revenue share
Define success – short and long term
Create fallback plans
Take time to enjoy the journey – celebrate your progress
Debrief accomplishments and lessons learned
COMMUNICATE - COMMUNICATE - COMMUNICATE
JLFeinstein, EWest
9/29/05