Organizing/Mobilizing Communication

Role of the Building Representative

•Leader•Communicator•Organizer•Problem Solver•Friend

2

3

Objectives

• Examine the behaviors of “effective organizing/mobilizing communicators”

• Apply the 30/70 principle• Communicate about the union using

issues, values & personal experience• Deal with objections using “feel, felt, found”• Determine the appropriate “ask” • End appropriately

4

Organizing Conversations

• We want to learn about our members/potential activists’ job related issues & concerns.

• We want to know about their personal and professional goals and their desire to see change happen.

• We want to answer their questions about the union, deal with their fears and anxieties.

5

Organizing Conversations

• We want to educate them about what a union really is and what we stand for.

• We want to correct any anti-union innuendo and misinformation.

• And we want to challenge them to act upon their concerns/desires for change by taking action in support of their union.

Organizing Conversation• Introduction-Who you are and why

conversation is important• Getting Person’s story-what do they do,

problems on job, satisfactions…• Who decides-why are things the way they

are, how can members influence what happens

• What could be-if member voice were amplified how different could things be

• The Ask-move member to action, big or little

6

8

LISTENING is important

• Listening is fundamental to building relationships

• In fact we should be listening 70-80%

• And talking 20-30%

• Make eye contact as you listen

• Use “Active Listening”

• Uncover feelings, not just facts

• Look for visual as well as verbal clues

• Try to understand before responding

• Try to build trust and make a connection with them

9

LISTENING

• Look like a listener

• Listen for content

• Listen for feelings

• Respond first to the feelings

• Listen for verbal and non-verbal clues

• Use reflective responses

• Use probing, deflecting & advising responses

• Resist responding when unnecessary

• Make closure positive

• Avoid “autobiographical responses

10

Let’s Practice!

In groups of two One participant will be:

– A Speaker

– A Active Listener

– The Speaker will describe why they became a BR and/or

– Why they have stayed a BR

11

Debrief

• Listeners: What was heard? Did you detect feelings? Based on this practice, did you do well using active listening?

• Speakers: Did the listener accurately describe what you said? How you felt? Do you have any constructive feedback for the listener?

12

Remember, the best organizing conversations are ones in which the organizer does 70% percent of the LISTENING and only 30% of the talking!

Dealing with Objections

What Kinds of Objections Do You Anticipate When Asking for Personal Contact Information?

14

15

Using “FEEL, FELT, FOUND”

• Feel: You make an expression that shows understanding or empathy with the objection

• Felt: You connect it to your own experience

• Found: You relate your personal knowledge or experience to counter the objection

16

Objection: “ I don’t usually give out my personal info.”

• Feel: I understand how you feel. I never give out my personal info casually”

• Felt: I have always felt suspicious when someone asks for it, I wonder how they are going to use it.

• Found: But what I have found is that ourUnion only contacts me when it is really important and that when they have reached out to me, I was glad they did.

What is the appropriate “ask?”

19

Are there things you can ask the potential member to do…

• That would get to a “small yes?”

• That would get them involved at a low level to begin?

• That would bring them closer to the union?

20

Are there things you can ask the non-involved member to do…

• That would get to a “small yes?”

• That would get them more involved?

• That would bring them closer to the union?

• That would build their understanding of their value to the cause?

Conducting 10 Minute Worksite Meetings• Agenda• Current Issues Update-2 Minutes• -review topics from last union mtg.• One Hot Issue-4 Minutes• -ask for ideas to take back to next union mtg• What’s on Your Mind-3 Minutes• A Success or Problem Story-1Minute

21

How Do You Get 10 Minutes of Members’ Time?

• Attach union meeting to another existing meeting

• Experiment with alternative times, consistency is helpful

• Ruthless sensitivity to time is critical• Don’t meet for trivia• Meetings must be meaningful

22

Useful Bulletin Boards• Statement of Program/Priorities of Union• Name/Contact Info of BR’s• Next 10 minute meeting date info• Website Info for local/state/national• Info on Current Issues• Info on Member Benefits• Political info• Contract info• Union Events-Professional Dev Opps• All info current, relevant, neatly displayed

23

24

And in conclusion…

• To be successful, we need each other more than ever before

• You are the union organizer on the front lines

• You are the one who is in the best position to make the union stronger

• Your primary tool as an organizer is the organizing conversation