YY session 9

Icebreaker: Does music give you energy? Check out Songs Giving Us (Much Needed) Life from NPR’s Code Switch Podcast to fuel your day!

Today's Mission

“A sticky idea is one that people understand when they hear it, that they will remember later on, and that changes the way they think, act, or hear...It’s worth spending time making sure the lightbulb that has gone on inside of your head also goes on inside the heads of [others].” - Chip Heath.

An effective message communicates what you want people to know about your cause and your work. Consider the “Reduce. Reuse. Recycle” campaign that helped to popularize environmentalism or the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter that encapsulated the thoughts and feelings of an entire movement.

The final part of the design phase of Appreciative Inquiry is to craft a message, identify allies and learn about another aspect of your own communication style.

Building a COALITION

GOALS

Today you will:

  • Understand what makes a message “stick”

  • Analyze how your message will change with different audiences

  • Complete an assessment of your nonverbal communication style


Portfolio Workbook Steps: Each step should take 1 hour.

STEP 1

A key step to getting support for your project is having a strong, unified core message. A strong message supports the recruitment of community partners and allies to achieve your goals.

To achieve your goals, consider the following questions:

  1. What do you want people to know about the issue, challenge or problem your project is addressing?

  2. How do you plan to respond to this challenge? What’s your project’s goal?

  3. What support might be needed?

  4. When and where will your project happen?

  5. How can folks get involved or support your work?

Use your Workbook to answer the questions above. Then, punch up your message by making it stick. Describe your project in a hashtag or a slogan and make it sticky!



STEP 2

Once your group can answer the questions from Step 1, begin mapping out a volunteer/ partner recruitment plan in your Workbook.

Consider how your message may change for different audiences.

How will you adapt your message to reach:

  • More young people

  • A community board member or city council member

  • Parents or guardians

  • Policymakers

Use your Workbook to write to create and practice a 30 second elevator pitch (three different audiences).

You have practiced creating an Elevator pitch in the Hats & Ladders App. Use what you learned to support your work!

STEP 3

Finally, let’s talk about non-verbal communication. As you begin to work on your project, you will be communicating with others about it. In Session 2 you learned about your communication style. Everyone also has a nonverbal communication style. Here's a fun video about how our faces, eyes, tone, and posture communicate before we say a word.

What does your non-verbal communication style “say” before you speak one word?

Complete the nonverbal skills assessment in your Workbook to determine which non-verbal communication elements either support or detract from your ability to be accurately understood by people.

Now, navigate to Session 10 by clicking the button below!


Remember to submit your Portfolio Steps and continue to explore the Hats & Ladders App to build your power skills!