Instructor Resource
Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
1
Class Activities
Chapter 7: Creating a Vision
Guide to the Class Activities
Each activity is designed based on Fink’s Learning Taxonomy and is tagged with the following
tags under the taxonomy’s learning and assessment structure:
1. Foundational Knowledge (F)
2. Application (A)
4. Human Dimension (H)
6. Learning How to Learn (L)
These activities may be used in either small-group or large-group settings, depending on class
size and time available. Some may also be suitable as homework.
Activities
Acrostic (F)
Begin class by asking students to create their own acrostic, using the word “vision.” For each
letter, they should find a word that begins with that letter that also relates to “vision.” For
example:
V alues
I nspiring
S eeing the future
I nclusive
Have students share their acrostics in class and identify words their peers have used that are
Password (F)
Instructor Resource
Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
2
The rules for this game are explained in the Class Activities for chapter 4. This is a fun exercise
with which to begin class. It helps students learn the terms from the chapter and how to explain
them to someone else. Terms:
Vision
Challenge
Change
Map
Picture
Latitude of Acceptance (A, I)
The concept of the latitude of acceptance is derived from social judgment theory
In class have students brainstorm controversial issues on which everyone has an opinion. Have
them select one. Brainstorm again all the possible positions concerning this issue. Draw a
continuum on the board of all the positions ranging from the most favorable to the most critical.
In small groups have students choose either the majority position or one of the extreme positions
and discuss how a leader could articulate a vision for change to an audience at this position. The
change could be in either direction. What are the areas of agreement? Where can a sense of
Instructor Resource
Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
3
The Story (A, I, H)
American Public Media features a radio show broadcast from North Carolina called The Story
(http://thestory.org). It profiles ordinary people “whose lives are intersecting with significant
issues in the news” and gives them the opportunity to tell their story. This site can be used in
several ways for instruction. Students can be assigned to listen to a weekly broadcast, or one
Inspirational Speeches (F, A)
Ask students to bring to class examples of visionary speeches they have found inspiring. In
class, briefly explain the four components of the rhetorical situation: The speaker, the speech, the
Walking the Talk (A, I)
Ask students to bring to class examples of leaders who “walk the talk,” who model integrity and
consistency in their words and behavior. In small groups discuss what accounts for these
Profit-Seeking and Visionary Leadership (A, F)
Businesses are often concerned about making a profit, which may run counter to the goal of
creating vision that challenges people in the organization to benefit others. Ask students to
Writing Assignments
Virtual Leadership (A, I, H)
In a 4-5 page paper have students report on a vision for change that was primarily created over
the internet, either through a blog, social network site or tweets. Have them analyze the process
Instructor Resource
Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e
Sketch-noting (F, A, I)
Sketch-noting is introduced in the Class Activities of chapter 1. It is a way to think visually about
an issue. Making sketch notes is not about drawing, or artistry, but about making marks on paper
(or a white board) to help oneself think. There is no right or wrong way to do this. Everyone will
do it differently.
Ask students to sketch out (on paper you provide, or a page of their own) one hope they have for
a positive change in society, such as eliminating poverty, providing good public education for all
Perspective Taking (A, I)
Bring out the user profiles students developed in Week 3 and ask students to imagine how this
persona would respond to different kinds of visionary leadership. What issues would matter to
One Minute Paper Topics (F, A, I)
For you, what is the hardest part of creating a vision?