Organizing Program Assessment
Are you leading an organizing effort but feel the constant competing priorities between urgent action campaigns and the need for ongoing leader training and development? Do you know that base-building is crucial for sustaining your long-term work and growing organizational power but feel unsure of how to support others to engage that process consistently? Or maybe you manage an organizer or a team of organizers and want to strengthen your skills to accelerate their development?
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This following assessment will help you get clear on where you need to focus in your organizing program’s learning and development journey. It will also give you a few suggestions as for next steps to take in a focus area.
Learning and Development
DIRECTIONS: For each question, choose the statement that feels most aligned to where you and your organization are right now.
How often are members engaging in learning about organizing?
What skills and materials have you developed?
A
We hold intermittent sessions but find it hard to prioritize ongoing development.
B
We have a series for learning offered with some regularity or cadence.
C
We have a suite of learning opportunities that can be flexibly deployed to engage new leaders.
A
We are still solidifying the basics of organizing in a way that is accessible to our base.
B
We have the foundations down but need to teach deeper, more advanced skills.
C
We have differentiated resources for organizers of different skill levels and interests.
How are leaders & members applying their learning?
A
Mainly staff are guiding campaigns and scoping out steps and opportunities.
B
A few leaders can move independently but majority need significant support and accountability.
C
Each team has members who know how to lead including those who can facilitate and teach others.
YOUR SCORE
For every A count 3 points, for every B count 2 points, for every C count 1 point. Then add up your total for this section.
Managing and Coaching
DIRECTIONS: For each question, choose the statement that feels most aligned to where you are right now. You may be thinking of your relationship managing or coaching one full-time organizer, a team of organizers, or a core leadership team.
When it comes to my experience managing and coaching others:
When thinking about developmental stages for my organizers:
A
I am newer to the role and need to strengthen foundational manager skills and as a coach of organizers.
B
I have experience but struggle on specifically developing more impactful organizers.
C
I have extensive experience managing organizers through all stages of development.
A
This feels overwhelming. I am not sure how to start mapping that out on my own.
B
I have some internalized benchmarks but struggle communicating them to others.
C
I have clarity on stages of development and regularly utilzize shared resources in coaching.
When I am observing or supporting my organizers in internal and external actions:
A
I am not always sure what I should be looking for or how to set clear expectations.
B
I know how to give feedback or advice in certain areas but not in others.
C
I have a clear bar of success for all aspects and am able to share feedback so organizers can successfully grow.
YOUR SCORE
For every A count 3 points, for every B count 2 points, for every C count 1 point. Then add up your total for this section.
Base Building
DIRECTIONS: For each question, choose the statement that feels most aligned to where you and your organization are right now.
What best describes the state of your base-building strategy?
How do your organizers and leaders overall feel about base-building?
A
We do not have a clear strategy for base-building.
B
We have a basic plan but we struggle to execute consistently towards goals.
C
We have a clear strategy and have strong practices and habits for ongoing base-building.
A
They think it is mainly the lead organizer's or some else’s job to base build.
B
They know it is important but feel hesitant to do so or have trouble prioritizing it.
C
Base-building is everyone’s role and they hold each other accountable for engaging in it as an ongoing discipline.
What does turnout to meetings, trainings, and actions look like?
A
Not enough. Most leaders show up as individuals to meetings and actions.
B
Varied. We can rely on a few people who have a following to drive turnout.
C
Impressive. We have a group of leaders who reliably have a following of 5-10+people.
YOUR SCORE
For every A count 3 points, for every B count 2 points, for every C count 1 point. Then add up your total for this section.
ORGANIZING PROGRAM ASSESSMENT RESULTS
Learning &
Development Score
Managing &
Coaching Score
Base-Building
Score
The area with the highest score will be the place to focus the most. If you scored 6 or more in any section, look at the suggestions below.
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Learning & Development: If you got a 6 or more in this section, start here! A few things that can help you in this phase of your work:
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Map out the key learning knowledge, mindset, and skills your leaders need to know and identify a regular space to preserve for development. This could be monthly sessions, an annual training, or a coaching group check-in.
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Get some targeted strategy review support with me to identify a plan for moving forward. Book a consult with me.
Management & Coaching: If you got a 6 or more in this section, here a few things you can do to make strides in this phase of your work:
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Identify other managers and coaches of organizers in your network. Reach out to set up regular times to thought-partner and resource share.
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You may want to engage in coaching with me to solidify your organizing management skills. Book a consult with me.
Base-Building: If you got a 6 or more in this section, here a few things that can help you in this phase of your work:
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Think about your leaders or organizers that have the most reliable following. Reflect with them on their strengths and how they may be able to play a role in supporting the team in this effort.
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Plan and launch an Individual Relational Meeting or House Meeting Campaign in your organization.
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Get some ongoing strategy and program support with me to create an integrated base-building plan for your organization moving forward. Book a consult with me.