Training Toolboxes
From ClimateNetworkWiki
The following "toolboxes" are intended to help People create solutions in their Places.
Contents |
Coordination
The Coordination toolbox is designed to provide resources on how to create and coordinate dynamic, resilient teams that will achieve desired goals. Essential Parts of this include volunteer management, building group capacity and finances. Check out the links below for resources...
- Finance Guide
- An excellent resource on creating work-plans: Guidelines for Preparing a Work Plan
- Some tips on Volunteer Management
Strategic Planning
If you want to get stuff done, you got to plan how you are going to get there. Strategic Planning is a good way of breaking down that big vision of change into achievable, measurable goals and steps. The Sustainable Campuses team has lots of resources on Strategic Planning, and can help your campus group through a planning process. Email the Regional Coordinator for more resources and trainings! bc at syc-cjs.org
- Campaign Strategy: This toolbox explores how to develop a campaign on your campus or city.
Communications
When trying to create change, sometimes how you say something is more important than what you say! There are many easy and effective tools, strategies and approaches to communication that can foster change in attitudes, behaviour and decision-making at the personal, institutional, community and governmental level.
Understanding the Public and Communicating Effectively
McAllister Research has divided Canadians into 4 groups -
- The Choir - approximately 15% of Canadians that are well informed about the issue and want solutions
- The Congregation - approximately 67% of Canadians that are not well informed, but do care about the environment
- The Heathens - approximately 20% of Canadians who are not well informed and do not care at all
- The Atheists - approximately 5% of Canadians that are well informed about the issue, but DO NOT think it's a problem
Their advice is to activate the choir to talk to the congregation while ignoring the heathens and the athiests.
Developing an Effective Communication Strategy
Doug Mackenzie Mohr wrote a book on Fostering Sustainable Behaviour through Community-Based Social Marketing, a process he has developed to help people create more effective communication strategies. As an environmental psychologist, he has conducted research for the past 20 years showing that some basic assumptions many of us have about how to create behavioural change are seriously flawed, and explain why despite many agencies and NGOs spending a lot of time, money and effort trying to create change for the past 40 years, we still face many of the same challenges identified in the 1960's. He also has a great interactive website (which is being revamped for January 2008) and offers seminars throughout North America and Australia.
Integrated Marketing Communications
An | Integrated Marketing Communication Plan] is one way of looking at developing a holistic communications plan for your organization. Check out this modified version that is under development for the Campus Climate Network Communication Strategy.
Promotion Techniques
Getting people to attend and participate are usually staples of a good event. The key to getting people in the seats is Promotion. Promotion can be separated into two categories: promotional materials you do yourself (posters, flyers, facebook groups, word of mouth) and earned media (which is anytime you get covered by the news media). This section looks at them both.
- Poster, Flyers, and banners
- Hand billing and Word of Mouth: is by far the best way to get people to your event. Don’t be afraid to go up to random strangers and tell then about what you are doing and why it is so awesome.
- Tabling: This is a great way to talk to students, especially if you are selling tickets, or signing a petition. TIP: If you are tabling try not to sit down. You look much more approachable standing up.
Media Relations and Publicity
Getting some free publicity from the media is a great way to raising the profile of your organization. However working with the media can be difficult and sometimes challenging. For all your local events and media relations, you may wish to designate a specific member of your group as your Media Relations Person. This ensures that messaging stays consistent and professional.
Media Basics
*Get the Facts Right: All information that you provide to the media should be accurate and precise. Do your research and work from notes if you are providing information to media representatives. If you don't know the answer to a question, or if you're not sure of a fact, don't guess. You can always find out the correct answer and call them back promptly. But, in all cases, it's best to just be prepared. *Stay on the Message: Remember the purpose to media interviews is to raise the profile of your group or organization. When you speak to the media, you are seen as a representative of your group. Keep that in mind when you are being interviewed and stay within the mandate of your organization. If you are asked a question you can’t answer on behave of the organization don’t say anything or say “we have no official stance on that issue at this time.” It is ok to do that. *Watch Your Language: Language can be an incredibly powerful thing; be careful of the words that you use, as they can convey things that you may not necessarily want to say. Also - check your spelling and pronunciation! Be especially careful with names of people and places - sometimes these need a little extra attention! *It's All About Relationships: Don't wait for an event to seek out your local media - do it now! Creating a positive relationship with your local newspaper editor, reporter or columnist can really help you down the road! Ensure that your local media know what your organization is, who you are, and that you can be relied upon to be good sources of information
Resources
Facilitation
Want to learn how to have more effective meetings and get the most out of the groups you work with? Facilitation is the art of leading group interactions and setting up smooth processes for decision making.
Decision Making 101
Tips for Effective Meetings
Facilitation Techniques
Research
The Research toolbox is designed to be used to create change through research.
Things to think about with Research
- The Politics of Research: Finding Common Ground - How does research create change?
- The Importance of Standing Still - How do we learn how to change the status quo?
- Asking the Right Questions - What is the role of a good question, and how do we come up with them?
- Creating a Research Team - How do we build capacity, and sustain it?
- Cultivating Knowledge - What are strategies and tools for getting groups to learn together, and from researching by listening?
- Engaging a Network - How can we engage large numbers of diverse perspectives and their ideas
- Crafting a Strategy - What are the elements of a strategy for change that will guide effective action?
- Creating Cycles of Action and Reflection - How can we incorporate cycles of reflection into our action?
