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Hi <<First Name>>,
I have a confession.
If the idea is all planned out and isn’t mine, I’m not so hot to help with it. I’m not even sure I want to go to that event. There’s no ownership in it for me.
Many of you have positions in the community that require you to come up with lots of ideas. For events, for activities, to promote, to build, to help create the best possible version of your small town. You’re skilled at taking your own ideas and planning incredible things for your community. You’ve attended conferences to learn what other towns are doing and then taking that information and create your own thing.
We expect people to come to these all planned out events because we’ve already done the work for them. All they must do is show up. Have a good time.
Then we get upset when the response to our all planned out events are lackadaisical at best. We wonder what is wrong with people.
When what we should be wondering is what is wrong with what we’ve done.
Did we Gather Our Crowd? Ask for input, ask for ideas from other people. Ask in person, ask online, ask, ask, ask. Don’t hold meetings to find other ideas. Invite folks to meet over lunch in the park to visit about it.
Do we help Build Connections? Honor all the ideas, be willing test them all out. And offer resources you may know of. Again, you don’t need a meeting for this. You could pick up the phone and say “did you know so and so has that thing you need?” Or send a text connecting so and so to your idea tester. You can do this for any event someone is planning, it doesn't have to be your event.
Take Small Steps. What is the smallest possible way you can test out your idea? Are you planning for music in the park? Why not see if a few folks will come with guitars at lunch time or after work?
I know it’s hard to give up the task of planning it all out. You’re experts, right? It’s going to be chaotic. It’s going to be different and you won’t have control. Here are some benefits of giving up that control.
- You don’t have to do all the work
- People who help create also participate
- Ownership in even a small part of something creates a stronger community
- It will be exciting to see what works, and even what doesn’t work.
When’s your next event or activity? Try the Idea Friendly Method (Gather Your Crowd, Build Connections, Take Small Steps).
Thanks,
Deb
cofounder of SaveYour.Town
p.s. Last week we sent out our speaking engagements and I made a mistake! It's the Missouri Community Betterment (not Retirement) event!
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Efficiency is not our goal, community is our goal. Learn the secrets to planning an event that brings out the community! Click on the picture for more information. Can't see the picture? Go to www.saveyour.town This video is available for 14 days from the day you order it!
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