Best Practices for Building Stronger Communities: Deep Listening, Interactive Meetings, and More

Are you working towards making a significant impact in your community? It is said that change takes time, and Steven Covey is credited with saying that "Change happens at the speed of trust."

The question is, what are you doing to create that trust within your community?

Crystal Atson from the Ford Family Foundation recently joined me on my podcast, Community Possibilities and shared a refreshing approach to community collaboration. The Foundation works with communities exactly where they are, without imposing what they think the community needs. Collaboration is much like a two-way highway.

Collaboration also requires deep listening. Where are there opportunities for rich conversations within your community coalition or organization?

Here are some best practices that can help you get started:

• Assess your membership and ensure it includes the people you most want to serve.
• Assure that your meeting is not just a "meet and talk" session by including an interactive component such as a visioning activity, an asset map, a data walk, or a facilitated discussion. If you need help, reach out to me.
• Have some fun, try a communication game.
• Schedule one-on-one time with community members, especially those who can't or don't attend formal meetings. Listen more than you talk.
• Keep your eyes on the prize, ensure that everyone helps design your strategic plan, logic model or theory of change, and once created, keep them front and center. Talk about how you are doing to reach your goals.
• Use social media. It's free!

What are you doing to build trust and collaboration in your community?