Have you ever attended an unfocused training on too broad of a topic? I definitely have. Developing a training is a challenging process, especially when there's a lot you WANT to cover. How do you narrow down to the necessary skills, and ensure that participants walk away with learning they can put into action? To help us develop our trainings (both the overall agenda and each individual session), we use the KSA Test.
I spend a lot of time speaking to businesses to secure donations of goods. Whether soliciting an in-kind donation of food for the opening party of your campaign office, or asking for donated space for an event, one of the biggest keys to success I've found is coming prepared. What's that mean?
When hosting intense events, whether it's a weeklong training, a multi-day conference, or a long strategy planning session, it's irresponsible to assume that everyone will always get along or that incidents won't occur. That's why we like to declare a "safe person" at major events. A safe person is there to work through personal issues or to field reports and complaints that arise when people are pushed to the edge of their comfort zone.
Many of us spend lots of time in a chair, staring at a screen, entering data, pounding through call sheets. Health studies show there are significant negative health impacts of sitting all day, even if you work out every day (which I don't).
Every organizer has THAT moment. The Showdown, the Fight Scene. The moments when you gather your supporters and march out, magic wand held high, ready to defend what is right and cast your great spell. Great as those moments are, they don’t happen every day. And if you spend all your time thinking about the big moment instead of focusing on the details, you won’t be prepared when it arrives.
Campaigns can easily become your life, but don't forget to pay attention to important cultural events going on around you. I once worked for an organization that tried to run an afternoon canvass on Super Bowl Sunday, not realizing what day it was. Did it work? Not even a little bit. I've seen organizations try to run big events on holidays, too, with similar results. But you can use events and holidays to your advantage. Instead of competing with an event, take advantage of the energy around
