[Ohio-talk] fyi and then get busy

[richard]

I am using information below from research read on.

How are we going to  build the federation?

We will begin with marching for independence and then adopt the
attitude that develops  recruiting and retaining members,  By getting
volunteers, donors, or just fans of the cause.

   Groups struggle to find a consistent system for doing so.  Leaders of
cause-based groups (non-profits, associations, businesses, social
entrepreneurs, religious groups, etc.) are often so focused on the
organization's purpose that they falter when trying to fulfill the other
primary ingredient for their organization's success - people. 

After all, People + Purpose = Organization - and when those two ingredients
are combined, the world can be changed forever. Margaret Mead reminds us of
the power of organizations, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful
committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that
ever has." 

Organizations change the world.  It is groups that are made up of People +
Purpose that have shaped society, sparked rebellions, led revolutions, and
made the world better for all of us. Many organizations, however, are
well-intentioned, their leaders are passionate about their cause, but they
lack the PEOPLE necessary to deeply impact their purpose. They're a tiny
group of people whose potential is limited by their inability to attract
more help. This article provides a glance at the 8 steps organizations can
follow to ensure long-term success at attracting a high quantity of high
quality people to support their purpose.  

Step 1: Focus On the Basics - Policies, procedures, politics, drama,
details, more politics, personality management, paperwork, email, planning.
Do these things make up the bulk of your to-do list?  How many of them have
to do with the two core ingredients of world-changing organizations (People
+ Purpose)?  As a leader, focus at least 80% of your time on people and
purpose. Every day evaluate your to-do list and ask, "Will this work help me
get more people to work for our cause?" and "Will this work help my people
more effectively achieve our purpose?"

Step 2: A.C.E. You're Values - The guiding values of an organization are its
heart and soul. High quality people are attracted to high quality things. If
your organization's values bleed through to the surface of everything you do
- the organization's actions, words, and results deeply represent those core
values - people will join up and stay involved with the group. To
consistently attract and retain a high quantity of high quality people in
your organization, it is important to Achieve, Communicate, and Expect your
organization's values at all times. Achieve them not only through the
actions you take to impact your cause, but also through the actions you take
to recruit people to your group. Communicate them clearly and at every
chance with current and potential members, volunteers, donors, or fans.
Expect everyone involved with your cause to exemplify those values in their
work at all times - make no exceptions. The values of your group are its
heart and soul.

Step 3: Gather Your Workhorses - Fact: Eighty percent of the work in your
group is done by twenty percent of its people - especially when it comes to
recruiting more members, volunteers, donors, or fans. It is probably no
surprise to read this, and of course, you're in that 20% of "workhorses,"
right? Many organizational leaders spend a lot of time and energy trying to
get the 80% to "step up" and do what the 20% does. Carrot and sticking the
stubborn or unmotivated mules in the organizations will not turn them into
workhorses. Instead, we recommend that you gather your "workhorses" and get
to work.  Humans are hardwired to desire the company of people who are like
us.  Motivated people with strong values tend to seek and enjoy the company
of other motivated people of similar values.  In other words, like recruits
like.  So, do you want your 80% on the front lines of recruitment, or do you
want your "workhorses" out attracting more people like them. Stop wasting
your time with the unmotivated people in your group.  Gather your workhorses
and get to work.

Step 4: Know Your Audience - By "know your audience," we really mean, "know
that your audience is probably much bigger than you think it is." More
people want to be involved in your cause than you can even imagine.
However, the secret to reaching your massive audience isn't mass marketing,
it's personal relationships.  If you can get your current people to meet
more people (and share your group's crazy dream with these new friends),
your potential audience will grow dramatically.  

Ask people why they join and/or stay in their organization.  One reason will
rise to the top as the most common theme:  "the people." Effective
member/donor/volunteer recruitment is a relationship business.  Work with
your currently involved people to tap new and different channels for
identifying new prospective participants.  Utilize referrals from internal
and external sources.  Do "relationship drives" which give your current
members opportunities to just shake hands with, get to know, and maybe share
your group's dream with new people.  Commit to only using marketing efforts
that directly result in attaining names and contact information of
prospects.  Use online social media outreach to proactively build
relationships with new people. People don't join groups that stand there
shouting about how great their purpose is.  People join (and stay in) groups
that include other people that they have a relationship with, care about,
and like to work with. 

Step 5: Share Your Dream - An organization's wild, bold, audacious dream is
what you will really recruit people to join. People don't join
organizations; people join people.  And people are far more likely to join a
group of people who are boldly heading in an exciting direction than a group
of people who are stagnant.  If your group doesn't have a crazy dream,
exciting vision, or daring goal to inspire others with, it is unlikely
people will want to join your little tribe.  The best people don't want to
just be a part of a group - they want to be a part of a movement, an
experience, an exciting achievement that they can help to make a reality.
Worried that you don't have a bold, audacious dream?  That's okay.  Stop
asking people if they want to "join" your group and start asking people what
you and your organization can help THEM "create." 

Step 6: Be Socially Excellent - Social Excellence is a philosophy we teach
that includes becoming a master at communication, relationship, and
networking skills.  But Social Excellence is about more than that - it is
also about building connections with others because those connections can
lead to rich relationships, innovative collaborations, and organized groups
of committed citizens that can change the world.  Being Socially Excellent
means committing to approaching every day, every person, ever interaction
with curiosity, generosity, authenticity and vulnerability.  It is about
seeking deep meaningful connection with others, not for personal gain (or to
recruit them to your group), but because it is these deep meaningful
connections that have the potential to lead to changing the world.
Preparing the people involved in your organization with Social Excellence
gives them clarity about the best ways to interact with others so that your
cause might be most fully realized.  Here's our official definition of
Social Excellence.

Social Excellence [n]: A state of perpetual generosity, curiosity,
positivity, and openness to limitless possibility. A desire to intentionally
connect with others. The ability to engage in deep, meaningful conversation.
Acting in a responsible and respectable manner, with high expectations of
others.  Being authentic and living everyday with integrity as the best
version of yourself.  Being confident and vulnerable. Being fun and
compassionate. Being open, kind and bold. The deepest level of societal
participation and contribution.

Step 7: Grow Wiser - An absolutely vital component to building a culture of
long-term, limitless organizational growth is to commit to a constant
pursuit of wisdom.  Learning from experts outside your current sphere is
where many groups find innovation.  Are you a non-profit leader in the
health sector?  Intentionally seek out sales people in the retail world for
advice. Are you an association leader in the political sphere?  Read books
for college student organizations. You get the idea. In fact, all
organizational leaders should be reading books and blogs, watching videos,
and following tweets by the best thought leaders out there.  Seth Godin,
Keith Ferrazzi, Zig Ziglar, Yvon Chouinard, Dale Carnegie, Peter Guber, Dan
Buettner, Ori and Rom Brafman, Guy Kawasaki, and Simon Sinek have written
some of the best books that have inspired us.  

Step 8: Repeat - Do those first seven steps.  Teach all the new people
you've engaged in your cause those seven steps. Then do it again. Repeat.
Over and over. Limitless.  

People + Purpose = Organization. Organizations change the world.  But a
brilliant cause or purpose without people to support it is just another idea
floating around in space.  Consistently attracting a high quantity of high
quality people to your purpose requires focus, work, relationships, and
strategy. But it is the only thing that ever has changed the world.

Go change the world.