Who or what sparked your interest in social change? Why are you committed to building community or organizing a small group? How will it benefit your community, your family, your personal situation?Ģ. One-on-ones often follow this basic outline, but each conversation will be unique.ġ. Not everyone will say yes, but some will-and each new invitation builds your skills and confidence. The important thing is to make a friendly, honest invitation that fits your own interests and values.
For example, you could say, “I’m forming a small group for mutual support, and I’d like to have your input,” or “I’m concerned about and want to hear your concerns too,” or “I think that a lot of people are struggling with economic stress alone, and I want to ask you what we might do to support each other and do fun stuff together.” If they want to talk then and there, be sure to set aside enough time for a focused conversation. So go ahead and be clear about what you want. Our culture can be suspicious of open-ended agendas, and you don’t want people to think you’re starting an Amway business.
An easy way to get started is to invite someone you already know to meet with you for about a half hour at a neutral public site, like a coffee shop or a park. If you’re serious about forming a small group, however, you will probably need to be more deliberate. You can take the opportunity to ask more questions and make your call to action (“I’m forming a neighborhood group, you should join me” or “I’m forming a group to talk about our economic concerns”). Perhaps someone will off-handedly mention their frustration with potholes in the roads or their fears about their kids’ student debt load. You may be able to use this form of conversation spontaneously. And luckily, some will say “Yes” and become valuable contributors. Some will say “No” today, and “Yes” later. Some will say “Yes,” show up, and then drop out. Some will say “Maybe” (which generally means “No”). No matter how skilled you are as an organizer and conversationalist, some people will say “No” to your invitation. It’s best to prepare for a range of responses. No one likes to experience rejection, and unfortunately you aren’t likely to hear an enthusiastic “Yes, I’ll join you!” at the end of every conversation. The down side is that they can feel risky. One-to-ones teach you a whole lot about how other people see the world, which can deepen our commitment to social change and make us wiser organizers. You’ll enhance your story-sharing and listening skills, and you’ll learn to focus more on your relationships than on specific outcomes. We have found that if you begin a regular practice of inviting others to have deliberate, one-to-one conversations, you’ll find it rewarding. It’s a great way to invite someone to join your small group, or if you’re not trying to form a small group, it’s a great way to build relationships and learn more about your neighbors’ concerns. Based on your commonalities, you invite the person to work together. A one-to-one can be defined as a structured conversation where you authentically share your story with another person and listen to theirs.
Labor and community organizers have been using a practice called the “one-to-one” conversation for generations as a way to build networks, enhance relationships, and enlist people in their work.
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