Schedule 1:1's
A "one-to-one" is an intentional conversation and one of the fundamental tools in the organizer's toolbox. For a potential candidate, it is an opportunity to start or solidify a relationship with key members of your community.
These conversations are tools for deep listening, not for practicing your stump speech. You want to identify what people care about, what issues are at the forefront for different communities in your district, and what assets or capacity may be available to your campaign in the future, and how you can help community members build on those assets and grow their leadership.
There is no exact science or formula to a one-to-one conversation -- it is, after all, a conversation. But here are some guidelines to keep in mind:
Introduce Yourself and explain why you are visiting.
Warm Up. Have a few simple questions or comments ready to develop a little relaxed conversation at the beginning: this will get them talking and help you start to get a feel for them. Ask questions, listen closely, keep it relaxed. Talk about things the person seems interested in.
Listen Intently, Especially for Stories. Getting the person to do most of the talking is important. Speak in order to draw them out. A successful visit means the person visited is speaking at least 75% of the time, and most people appreciate your interest in them and their opinions. Stories tell the most about people's experiences. Try to get specifics about their experiences and their true feelings about things.
Seek to Identify areas of Interest. Listen to hear what seems to excite and/or motivate them. Use follow-up questions for more detail, to stimulate the conversation. Follow your own curiosity about their interests. Ask "why" questions to really understand what motivates the person.
Establish Some Common Ground. In order to establish a relationship you need to share some things about yourself and your experiences. Look for common ground. But remember that as the organizer your job is mostly to listen.
Remember your job isn't to:
- sell the person anything;
- preach to them;
- judge or psychoanalyze them.
Close the Visit. Watch the time so that you do not go over the time you set. End the visit by thanking the person for their time and that you hope to talk with them again soon.
Reflection and Evaluation. Right after the visit move to a different location and fill out a reflection form. (Do not fill out the form during a visit.) It is important for you to reflect on the visit, think about what they said, what it meant, and what you did and why. You cannot keep all this in your head, and the next time you visit or talk to them, you will have notes to refresh your memory.
Click here to download the follow up/ evaluation form.