Engagement

Who is it For? You or Them?

When they built the courthouse (San Miguel Courthouse, CO, pictured above), was it for the community or those who would hold power inside? What is our mindset when constructing something, holding a meeting, or starting a conversation? Seth Godin’s blog post double-clicks on the idea.

We have all been on the receiving end of a conversation that was positioned as an ask but clearly turned into a pitch. Are we able to build more trust and engagement when asked or pitched? How might we be authentic and intentional with our approach?

Way Too Early

A favored way sports leagues retain attention immediately after a championship event is to post a pre-season ranking for the coming season. Often titled ‘A Way Too Early Ranking,’ it attempts to retain engagement with fans. By giving hope to all those fans seeking a reset after disappointment or delighting those building on their success, the poll encourages people to start dreaming and planning for next season.

How might we find a balance between engagement and a reset? When do we allow our fans to recalibrate? When do we need to amplify their connection with our cause?

Energy

How does your energy vary between arrival and departure from a destination? A sense of place is a major influence, home versus new location. Do we arrive with anticipation and depart with satisfaction? Are we descending into anxiety and ascending with relief?

What emotions are we trying to elicit when we join a cause, and what do we hope to feel as we move on to the next enterprise?

Disembark

Do the people who benefit from your services know where to disembark? At the upper terminal of a ski lift, signs provide clarity on when to return to downhill ski mode. In an academic setting, final exams and/or graduation define the transition. But if you are an arts organization, is there a point of disembarkation? How about an environmental conservation group. What if we build the most sustainable residential structure and place all our property in a conservation easement? Do we uncouple from a land trust’s work?

The embarkation and disembarkation phases run the gamut from ‘obvious’ to ‘it is complicated.’ If uncertain, ta leading strategy is to remain in communication. I support causes in other regions because they are committed to sustained dialogue. I withdrew my engagement with an enterprise next door because they ghosted me.

What Are You Building

What are you building? Do you have plans, or is it more of an organic growth situation? How do you keep your fans apprised of your progress? When do you bring them into the conversation, at the inception of the idea, the grand opening, or somewhere in between?

How might our building project enhance our relationship with the community? How might we position and activate it so that the neighbors embrace the noise and disruption since they understand the impact of the final product?

Feeling Facts
https://www.gapingvoid.com/daniel-kahnemans-legacy-the-myth-of-reason/

What fact do you know to be true? Have you confirmed the hypothesis? I know gravity is a generally agreed-upon truth, but I do not completely comprehend the science and mathematical equations that prove its existence. When I run, I expect my feet to reach for the ground and strike with some level of force. My gut senses this before my brain.

When approached to support a cause and an organizational advocate starts with data, I often ask them for their story about how they got interested in the work. Enter the engagement with a narrative and shift to confirmation with facts. For this reason, I commence consulting engagements with Magnetic North, which involves the articulation of purpose, vision, mission, and values. My experience has confirmed most participants show greater attachment to the purpose and values because those articulations better capture emotions. The vision and mission trend toward factual representations.

How might we embrace emotions, even when we retain overwhelming research that confirms our impact?

Under the Lights

Adventures under the lights change the experience. Backpack with a headlamp, soccer in the park with flood lights, running among street lights through a new town, or ice climbing aided by spotlights. Some elements move faster, a few details are more pronounced, and our peripheral vision might diminish. The sensations around the activity are altered. It transforms our mindset.

What alterations might we make to group activities to facilitate a new experience? A summer camp I served scheduled camp programs for the board to participate in, aiding our ability to assume a camp mindset. A horse pack trip, backpack, or trying camp activities brought out the joy of camp and an appreciation for the resources dedicated to these programs.

How are you incorporating mission moments and activities into your team’s engagement? How might changing just the time of day, meeting room, lighting, agenda, or guest speakers alter your team’s mindset?

They Know the Song. Now We Can Share the Spotlight

Near the end of Prince’s rendition of Purple Rain at the 2007 Super Bowl, he knocks over the microphone and turns his song over to the crowd. Tens of thousands sing the final rounds of the chorus. It was the summation of a phenomenal halftime show. For the majesty of the performance, the group participation at the conclusion took the experience to a legendary crescendo. 

When we share the stage, our generosity is often rewarded with a feeling of ownership and personal fulfillment that cannot be replicated by acoustic osmosis. How might we share the stage with our fans so we can produce the best version of our collective work?

Fragments from the Road

Unless a person joins you on the trail, it is tough to recreate all we experience en route. We cannot easily replicate the moments of doubt, the dirt and grimness pressing into our skin, the awe of an unexpected vista, the frustration of missing a trail junction, and the exuberance of a tailwind and friendly grade. Our photos, videos, and narratives might capture a snapshot but do not augment reality. The most compelling way we gain a comprehension of the terrain is if we join the expedition. Thru-hikers embed themselves and accumulate experiences that add exponential depth and dimension.

The highest likelihood of supporting somebody’s understanding of the work that matters is to join the adventure and walk a section of the trail.