Build a Guiding Team: How to Turn Vision Into Action Through Collaboration

Build a Guiding Team: Turning Vision Into Action

Every successful change effort needs a strong, motivated team behind it — people who believe in the work and can help make it happen. Think of them as your project squad: trusted, respected individuals who can lead, influence, and get things done.

You might call this group a guiding team, implementation team, or workgroup. Whatever name you choose, one thing is certain: complex work requires teamwork. There’s no getting around it.

Why Voice Matters

A great guiding team reflects the community it serves — especially the people most affected by the issue at hand. That means including voices across socio-economic backgrounds, local power levels, and organizational roles, from front-line staff to executive leaders.

And most importantly, include families and parent ambassadors — those with lived experience related to the problem you’re tackling.

A strong team isn’t built on agreement alone. In fact, a little friction is healthy. Different perspectives spark better thinking and help avoid groupthink — when people agree just to keep the peace. Divergent voices encourage creative problem-solving and ensure decisions are grounded in real experiences.

Representative teams also align with the principles of human-centered design, leading to more effective and inclusive solutions.

Core Responsibilities of the Team

Your guiding team leads the charge in:

• Facilitation, logistics, and communications

• Data collection, analysis, and reporting

• Planning, implementing, and assessing yearly action steps

  
  

The team meets regularly to track progress and shares quarterly updates with the full AOK Network. These sessions are an opportunity to reflect on what’s working, what’s not, and what can be improved.

Key questions to guide your planning:

• Where will we meet to plan and implement the work?

• What rules and norms will guide our group?

• How will we assess and share progress every 90 days?

• What capacities do we need to succeed as a team?

• How will we manage and share information?

• How will decisions be made?

  

Champions: The Heart of Momentum

Every movement needs its champions — passionate advocates who can communicate the “why” behind the work and inspire others to join in.

Champions help explain objectives, share progress, and spark enthusiasm among peers and partners. They build connections, model commitment, and sustain momentum.

And yes — parents make some of the best champions.

Finding Your Team Members

You may already have partners who naturally gravitate toward certain goals or approaches. They ask the most questions, bring new ideas, and show steady engagement — those are your potential guiding team members.

Here’s how to start building your team:

• List the key attributes and skills needed to implement your objective.

• Ask partners to recommend potential members or roles.

• Decide who, how, and when to invite them.

• When you reach out — by email, call, or conversation — be clear about:

• What kind of help you’re asking for

• How much time or participation is needed

• How they can contribute to the team’s success

Building a guiding team takes intentional effort, but it’s the foundation for lasting change. With the right mix of skills, perspectives, and passion, your team can move from planning to progress — and from ideas to real impact.