What are the most common pitfalls to avoid when developing a logic model for outreach?

Consider your internal marketing especially for larger employers. For non profit organizations and government that are trying to inform the communities they serve about resources and services, start with your own employees at all levels. Often time they have networks that have a need including friends and family! Next, be sure to include other departments that also have a presence and serve populations that you are trying to target. We must come full circle be intentional and all-inclusive. TEAMWORK makes the DREAMWORK!!!

It is one of the most vital cornerstones when it comes to strategic planning—- including and relying on stakeholder feedback and lived experiences. By including stakeholders and customers — you increase the likelihood of success, sustainability, accuracy, and most of all, impact.

Stakeholder or shareholder participation is critical through all phases of evaluation, including developing a logic model, to ensure utility, validity, and buy-in. Stakeholder engagement is pivotal when developing a logic model, because this tool illustrates the relationship of components (actions, outputs, and outcomes) that undergird the logical sequence of the theory of change. All voices, especially those that experience or reflect the target population a program or initiative, are needed to create a comprehensive vision of the change process.

In my experience involving stakeholders is a critical ingredient. Stakeholders need to feel valued and that their input/opinions matter and that their presence is not there merely to check boxes

What I want to know is what data proved it necessary to use person first language for those that are unsheltered/homeless? What logic model did they use for that? I won't have to be offended by saying the homeless guy, I can say the guy experiencing homelessness. I'm sorry that you sleep cardboard, but let me show you I see you. Bold and cold AF to even ask someone on the street that question. Data revealed, when I talk about you and use human first language, others can see my compassion. You're precariously experiencing no walls or roof. If you just capitulate to my solutions for you. I have hope. A home only takes tx, compliance and change in your ambivalence. Before experiencing this homelessness what other experiences did you have?

Strategic Leadership and Strategic Human Resource Management align with the organization's strategic plan, which is guided by the mission and vision. Planning with these concepts in mind will shape an appropriate logic model.

You must do the groundwork! One of the first things you do when taking on any project or client, is to learn everything you can about them. Start with the mission and vision statement, web site review, and ask about pain points as well as their ideal outcomes.

One pitfall is designing a logical model that is not flexible to incorporate new ideas as the project is going one. Designers must never think that they have seen it or know it all to avoid having a model that does not capture the reality of the project environment overtime.

Design specific small goals that show clear and individual messages. But focus on your vision to ensure that all the micro-models are related to each other. Then, your mission Will be the compossition of all the small messages.

I have found that I am more successful with such endeavors when I collaborate with a team of colleagues to help assure me of my direction.

One time I legit took a SMART criteria and wrote it out and specifically stuck to just discussing what our model would do for our partners and cut to the deep conversation and key decision makers 100x faster than before. -be the experts and trust and realistic accountability will come!

Not being realistic or specific can set you, your team, and your organization up to make poor decisions (at best) or for failure (at worst.) Using SMART, is it "Achievable" is often underestimated. The disconnect between WANTING to achieve something versus the CAPABILITY to actually achieve it can be vast, especially when involving multiple stakeholders. For example, individual stakeholders may set a goal, without understanding how that goal affects the larger picture.

Pitfall 3 warns against logic model extremes – the Goldilocks Dilemma. Too ambitious? You're painting unicorns on a budget canvas, a Picasso gone astray. Too vague? Navigating a foggy forest without a compass – inefficiency at its finest. Avoid frustration and the art of illogical planning. Embrace the SMART side – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. In the logic model universe, precision is your lightsaber, and realism is your force field. May the SMART be with you – where success isn't a dream, but a measurable reality. Cheers to logic, wit, and planning just right!

Work with your team to develop realistic expectations based on your resources, assets and political expectations from your elected needs to also be taken into account.

Data is the cornerstone of best business practice and profitability, quality data leads to a better board room decision. Companies should have a strategy and a budget to digitalize its data for best results. Even if some data is still collected manually, employees should be trained on proper data collection management. Always keep in mind the saying “ garbage in garbage out” so make sure of giving decision makers quality data to ensure sustainable results.

In my experience, that biggest pitfall that occurs here is cherry picking data that supports a pre-determined goal. Data needs to be integrated throughout the entire decision-making process, informing who is involved in the projects all the way through how success will be measured.

The influence of our human beliefs on what is right or true has the greatest impact on the development of any engagement effort. Our interests usually drive our motivations and the stronger our affinity with the subject, the more subjective we are likely to be. The elixir? Using your logical mind (and some accountability buddies) to pursue facts without fear or favor. Try seeking out people whose opinions are starkly opposed to your own. It will drive objective review. At some point, you’ll enjoy a lightbulb moment ; realizing that data doesn’t minimize your opinion. And even if your discoveries prove your theories wrong, you are better informed because of it. Put on your lab coat, and science the $%*+ out of the data.

One must have data on their side if they even hope to be successful. This of course takes a time commitment and a careful eye concerning the quality of research for which to invest. Building a team of data-fluent members is also highly important. If particularly challenged by talent selection, we may find a need for an investment in training.

When we don’t use data or evidence we can hinder our problem-solving and disable our ability to identify patterns, trends, or potential weakness both internally and externally.

Each individual outreach effort is unique. It’s imperative to customize your outreach plan per effort and develop goals and objectives that scale the amount of success you’ve had. For example, if your previous effort was successful, up the ante. If it didn’t go as well, scale back expectations and be realistic.

What are the common pitfalls to avoid when developing a logic model for outreach? One thing that I have found hepful in avoidning pitfalls whilst developing a logic model for outreach is Consultancy & Community Engagement from grassroots to local to Regional to National. Inclusive to marginalised groups, vurnerable groups and community members.

Revert to your communities to gauge their reactions and sentiments to your interventions.By this you'll be able to go back to the drawing board to toggle and tweak your outreach projects in order to get the most out of your intervention thereby achieving much more satisfactory outcomes.

This is so important! Folks tend to forget research models are products of different social contexts and change with people and time.

Failing to regularly revise our logic model poses risks. When static, we may miss opportunities, ignore changes, and overlook issues affecting outreach. Leadership must acknowledge documentation's dynamic nature, adapting to learning and feedback. As marketers, consistent logic model updates are essential to avoid missed opportunities. Our team must review and adjust components based on data, results, and stakeholder input. Sharing updates with the team and partners improves outreach practices and outcomes.

Include your community, or the community with lived experience, in the development of any logic model. Creating a movement not tethered in the lived experience, what’s the point?

A logic model is not an instruction manual. Not everything that happens to create change can be detailed in a few simple steps. The same steps can not just be duplicated and present the same outcome for every person and/or situation. There is a lot of art in this. Allow for the creativity of your staff to make the change happen.

Logic models are great. They provide a good framework for strategic planning and thinking. But life, and social change processes included, do not always follow a logical pattern. Considering the unexpected, the unfathomable, the unreasonable, should also be part of any planning process. WE must consider various scenarios when developing a logic model and give space to scenarios that predict unreasobale developments, based on past experiences.

Engage the entire staff in plannning. Technology is moving faster than lighting! Don’t assume leaders or experts know it all. Embrace the notion that anyone may have contribution, and that it may increase office morale when more people are doing the talking. Information overload through media/social outlets is off the chain —- you are bound to learn something worth sharing.

Provide training and capacity-building opportunities for team members and stakeholders involved in the outreach activities. Also ensure that your logic model takes into account the diverse needs, preferences, and backgrounds of the intended audience, promoting inclusivity in your outreach efforts.