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Ask them. The first and most important rule. Few people will
do anything unless asked. To get someone to help, you have to ask
them.
- Ask them what they like to do. It doesn't help to ask someone who
hates to make phone calls to make phone calls. Maybe they will hold a house
party, or hand out flyers at their church or temple.
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Come with a menu of possible things for people to do Say, “we
need people to do this and this and that. It depends on what you
like to do. You can choose.”
- Know your overall problem Know its parts. Divide it up into as many
parts as reasonable -- things people can do without stumbling into one another.
make many small tasks rather than a few big tasks for only a few people. there
is really almost an endless division of tasks if you think about it for minute.
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There is something for everyone to do Participation builds
involvement. Let everyone help as much as they want. Even if it
is only a little. If they don't want to bring cookies to the
meeting, ask them to come early to set up the chairs.
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One person needs to be in charge. (you) the buck stops here.
You need to know how all the pieces fit together and where it is
heading.
- Don't guess or think you already know what people like to do Even
if you think you know, ask. People like to be asked and to get their first
choice.
- Provide a context for their job. Explain its importance and the
place of what they are doing in the overall campaign or project. People want
to know how important their job is, how it fits with the whole. Every link
of the chain is necessary.
- When someone has a task, ask how they are doing. Don't assume everything
is going fine. Often people won't ask if they don't know something. It is
important to see how things are going. But avoid a quick “I was calling
to see how you were doing, thanks, good-bye”
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Appreciate people for the work they do Thank them. If they are doing
a good job, let them know.
- If someone is doing a good job, think how they might take more responsibility
Do they want to take on more responsibility? Ask them. Encourage them to do
this. If they are making 3 phone calls, ask them to make 5, or 10. If they
are making 10 phone calls, as them to supervise 2 other people who are making
10 phone calls. Think about their next step.
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You want to hand off as much responsibility as possible as quickly as
possible into responsible hands
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Be friendly, but direct. Ask specifically for what you want.
- Avoid doing it all yourself You may be terribly competent. you know
the job will get done if you do it--even if it takes you until 4 am. But this
is a path to burning yourself out, not to mention not having any fun. It also
does not build any organization. In the short run, doing it all yourself has
some attractions. In the long run it is disastrous.
- Ask for a specific number If you are asking someone to make phone
calls or recruit new members, ask for a specific number. If you ask too high,
you can always go lower.
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Get a clear commitment about what they say they will do Write
it down if necessary.
- Be truthful about the limits you set. If you say you are only going
to ask them to do so much and no more, say so and stick with it. If this is
not true, don't say this is all you'll ask them ever to do.
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Emphasize the need for help This is real. "We can't do this
without you" is probably a true statement.
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Don't forget to ask people to help
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