Building your team

Building your team and mobilising support The more people you can get to take a leading role in your campaign, the stronger it will be. Use the following technique to recruit leaders to your campaign. How can we build more power?

A 1:1 in seven steps

The more people you can inspire to take a leading role in your campaign, the more you can achieve.

Introduction and reason for meeting – set out at the start who you are and why you are meeting, e.g. to find out more about them and whether they might like to get involved.

The process of identifying and developing leaders within your team is key to creating strong, successful campaigns. Remember, you can’t do everything yourself!

Identifying leaders There are two main groups of people you can develop as leaders of your campaign:  Students who either have a passion for or direct experience of an issue you are campaigning on. You may have identified them during a listening action or they may have approached you.  Individuals from supportive allies such as local charities or community groups who may be interested in working with you on the campaign.

Organising a 1:1 meeting After identifying potential leaders to get involved in your campaign, the next step is to set up a 1:1 meeting with them to discuss their involvement further. A 1:1 is a structured meeting with a purpose, not a social occasion. By the end of the meeting you should aim to find out:  What makes someone tick?  What will motivate them to join the campaign?  What commitment do you have from them?

For further information contact [email protected]

Establishing credentials – make clear how you heard about them, e.g. through a mutual friend or a listening action. Gaining consent – say that you’re going to start off by saying a bit about yourself. Check that they are happy both with that and the reason for the meeting. Your story – tell a story about you, such as how you got involved in your SU. This will help them to open up about their own experiences. Identifying self-interest and issues – ask questions to find out more about them, what they care about and why. End on a definite outcome – get a firm commitment to action from them. E.g. attend a future meeting, involve 5 of their friends. Thank the person for their time. If having spoken to them you don’t think they’re the right people to get involved, make that clear. Use the template on the General Election hub to record your 1:1s.

Keep in touch If you have any questions or would like further information email [email protected].