<< THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CONCERNED POSITION: >>
The Concerned Position, of raising your concerns without framing the
issue in terms of sides, is the cornerstone of your strategy for effective
action. It allows you to gather together a broad base of support without
alienating potential supporters or polarizing people into working against
you.
By taking a reasonable position and minimizing the use of confrontation,
you
become a credible group and people expect your concerns to be addressed.
This
allows you to keep all your options open and puts you in the best position
to
change the balance of power by appealing to the Larger Community.
BEGINNING: A CRITICAL PHASE: YOUR CHOICE OF SET UP HAS LONG TERM IMPACT:
As The Twig Is Bent, So Grows The Tree. Many of the basic
characteristics of your group are determined by your choice of set
up.
Decisions made at this time will influence what options will be available
to
you in the future. Through your set up, you introduce yourselves to
the
public and they get their first impression of you as a group. Your
reputation
and ability to influence people will depend on how you choose to set
up.
SET UP DETERMINES TO A LARGE DEGREE YOUR EFFECTIVENESS:
Surprisingly, the biggest differences between effective and
ineffective groups are found in how they set up. Decisions made at
the very
beginning can often be identified as the source of many later difficulties.
The choice of set up is often the single most important decision that
distinguishes effective groups from ineffective ones.
INEFFECTIVE GROUPS OFTEN SET UP SPONTANEOUSLY:
Outrage is often the initial motivation for group formation (see
Transformation: outline). It is very easy for groups to be `taken over'
by
their outrage and organize around how they feel. Most ineffective groups
follow this path, and fall into the Strategy of spreading outrage out
into the
world in hopes of gaining attention to their plight. Conflict, confrontation
and polarization work against them to seriously lessen their effectiveness.
EFFECTIVE GROUPS DECIDE CAREFULLY HOW TO SET UP: YOU DO HAVE A CHOICE:
Ineffective groups often don't realize they are making a decision by
setting up spontaneously. They feel this is the natural way to set
up and
never even consider other options. The groups that have been most effective
have realized, to one degree or another, that they have a choice in
set up and
they consider their options carefully.
SET UP INVOLVES 2 AREAS: POSITION AND ORGANIZATION:
By your choice of initial POSITION on the issue you will set up to
begin to influence the Larger Community. Your choice of ORGANIZATION
will
create the structure within your group. Both areas are important because
a
well organized group must work through a carefully chosen position
to reach
the Larger Community and influence the balance of power.
CHOOSING YOUR POSITION: GUIDELINES FOR IDEAL INITIAL POSITION:
The ideal initial position is one that:
=> Appeals To The Widest Possible Audience: <=
(Why risk excluding potential supporters?)
=> Does Not Offend Or Alienate People: <=
(Why risk having conflict and confrontation push people away?)
=> Does Not Force People To Choose Sides: <=
(Why risk polarizing people into working against you?)
=> Keeps All Your Options Open: <=
(Why narrow your future choices ?)
=> IDEAL POSITION APPEALS TO THE WIDEST POSSIBLE AUDIENCE: <=
To be effective you need a broad base of support and at this point
you
can't really predict where all your support will come from. Often groups
have
found common interest with individuals and groups that don't normally
work
together but are brought together by an issue. Why risk excluding
unidentified potential supporters by your position ?
EXAMPLE: APPEALS TO WIDEST POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:
Environmental groups are often at odds with hunters and loggers. On
the issue of forest management a common interest could be found. Sustainable
yield forest management, on a county wide plan, could potentially benefit
each
group. (Sustainable yields cuts at no more the rate of regrowth in
an managed
area). LOGGERS could benefit with long term job security instead of
the boom
and bust cycles of cutting all the trees and moving out of an area.
HUNTERS
could benefit from increased animal populations due to new growth habitat
from
forest cutting. ENVIRONMENTALISTS could benefit from the acceptance
of
environmentally sound forest management with better control of soil
erosion
and more wildlife diversity. Local activities like hunting and cutting
firewood can be consistent with Environmentalism. This practice could
also
favor small local logging operations and keep money in the local economy.
=> IDEAL POSITION DOES NOT OFFEND OR ALIENATE PEOPLE <=
Conflict by its very nature is irritating and makes many people very
uncomfortable. They feel conflict and confrontation are things they
would
like to avoid. As a result, if conflict surrounds your issue, people
(especially those who are not directly involved) will tend to avoid
dealing
with your issue.
CONFRONTATION CAN LEAD TO PUBLIC RESISTANCE TO YOUR POSITION:
As the level of confrontation rises, it begins to demand attention.
Although this can increase public awareness of your group, it comes
at a high
price. If the conflict is extended (which is the most common case)
and no
resolution is in sight, then people get frustrated and begin to feel
that your
problem is unsolvable. This can lead to a public frustration with your
case
and a feeling that it is a `lost cause'. In addition, after a period
of
extended conflict, people begin to filter out news related to your
issue. (ie:
avoid reading news articles, etc.)
Confrontation may have a place at certain times and situations
(see Confrontation: outline), but it has no place in your initial position.
Confrontation in a starting position alienates people, narrows your
base of
support and can actually generate resistance to your position.
=> IDEAL POSITION DOES NOT FORCE PEOPLE TO CHOOSE SIDES: <=
PUBLIC RESISTANCE TO CHOOSING SIDES:
Taking a position on one side of an issue (for or against) makes
people in the Larger Community feel they must decide if they are for
or
against your group. They often don't have the time or interest to evaluate
all the facts, and they feel you are forcing them to decide before
they have
time to hear both sides. They may have initially been willing to listen
but
may now resent being forced to take a position.
PUBLIC RESISTANCE TO ONE SIDED VIEW:
The fact that you have already taken a position raises the question
of
your reliability as a source of unbiased information. This generates
natural
resistance and suspicion. In addition, if conflict also surrounds the
issue,
then public resistance could grow into a real hostility to your group.
=> IDEAL POSITION: KEEPS ALL YOUR OPTIONS OPEN <=
Conditions may change. Often at the setup stage you have no idea what
situations you'll be facing later on. Don't start out with a narrow
position
that limits your future choices. Often narrow positions are irreversible.
For example, if you start out as a moderate group concerned about the
issue but not taking a side (for or against) then in the future you
may decide
that you need to take a stronger position. This option is always available.
A moderate group that has gained public support and later decides to
take a
stronger position often brings a lot of their broad based support with
them.
On the other hand, a group starting out taking a strong initial stand
on one
side of the issue can never change its position to a moderate one (not
taking
sides) because no one would ever believe such a reversal.
Keeping all your options open means you always delay as long as
possible decisions that are irreversible.
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CONCERNED POSITION: PROPOSAL FOR IDEAL INITIAL POSITION:
Your goal in forming your group is to raise concerns about the issue
and to
reach out to build a broad base of support in your community for having
those
concerns addressed. You have decided the best way to do this is to
avoid
framing the issue in terms of sides (ie: for and against) because you
are
trying to avoid polarizing people and alienating potential supporters
by
forcing them to choose sides. Instead you want to bring together everyone
who
has any concern with the issue into a powerful base of support to insure
that
your concerns will be addressed. If a stronger position on the issue
is needed
(ie: a yes or no decision), you will wait until it is necessary to
take that
position and it will be based on how well your concerns have been addressed.
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CONCERNED POSITION MEETS ALL GUIDELINES FOR IDEAL POSITION:
=> Appeals To The Widest Possible Audience: <= You are appealing
to those
concerned for any reason.
=> Does Not Offend Or Alienate People: <= Your position does not
alienate
people because it is reasonable and nonconfrontational.
=> Does Not Force People To Choose Sides: <= You have made it clear
that
your group is not choosing sides and you are not asking others to do
so.
=> Keeps All Your Options Open: <= A concerned position keeps options
open.
CONCERNED POSITION: BEST CHANCE OF SUCCESS
Even if you feel strongly that you want to come out supporting one
side of the issue, you will want to consider very carefully the benefits
of
the Concerned Position. It allows you to raise your concerns without
setting
people against each other and it gathers together and unites all people
with
any concern with the issue. As a result, it has the potential for building
the widest possible base of support and therefore has the best chance
of
success.
MAKE THE CONCERNED POSITION PUBLIC:
The main reason for making your position public as soon as possible
is
to establish the Concerned Position as the focus of group formation
and
organization. If you delay in publicly presenting this position, one
or more
other groups may form based on a more limited view of the issue and
with a
much narrower base of support.
For example, a group may form that takes a strong stand that defines
`sides' (for or against). It may become the rallying point for some
individuals, while alienating many others who are concerned but feel
they need
more information before making a decision. This kind of group formation
will
lead to a fragmentation of your potential base of support into small
polarizing groups. It's easier to have people move to the concerned
position
in the very beginning than it is to try and show groups, that have
already
taken a strong position, the advantage of the strategy behind a concerned
position. ( Note: Once polarization has begun around an issue, it is
often
difficult to reverse. Even if polarization has begun, a Concerned Position
can provide a welcomed alternative to groups already formed.)
IF NECESSARY CONSIDER REDEFINING YOUR POSITION TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE:
Even if your group has already taken a strong position on one side
of
the issue (`for or against'), you can still take advantage of many
of the
benefits of the Concerned Position by deciding to redefine your group's
position. Instead of continuing to present the issue in terms of sides,
you
can refocus on raising specific concerns. If your group's name frames
the
issue in terms of sides (Citizens Against .., etc.) then consider renaming
your group to stress your concerns. Remember, the Concerned Position
allows
you to reach out to include more people, it does not prevent your group
from
taking a stronger position (`for or against') at some time in the future
if
it becomes necessary.
Carefully consider the very important benefits of this Strategy.
Would it be worth redefining your position if it gave you a broader
base of
support and put you in a much stronger position to resolve your issue?
CONTACT PERSON: KEY POSITION
Publicly announcing your position establishes your group as the contact
point for people concerned with the issue.
Your contact person is a key position in your initial setup. The
choice of contact person is very important as he or she will be the
first
contact that people will have with your group. The ideal contact person
needs
to be friendly and enjoy working with people. This person MUST be fully
committed to the value of maintaining a moderate Concerned Position.
Any
person with a tendency to see the issue in terms of `sides' will be
very
likely to slip into that attitude with the public. The person will
need ready
access to a phone (or answering machine) and have a contact address
to give
out (perhaps a post office box number).
CONTACT PERSON: JOB DESCRIPTION
The contact person for your group will be expected to:
-- Get the name and address and phone number of interested people who
reach
your contact number or address. This list will form the basis of your
Interest Group.
-- Find out their areas of concern.
-- State that your group has decided to develop a broad base of support
by
raising concerns about the issue without taking a side (for or against).
Your strategy is to make the focus of public attention the specific
concerns that you think need to be addressed. You feel this will get
more people involved than a `for or against' position.
-- Give out what information you have on the issue: keep this information
factual, unemotional and consistent with a Concerned Position.
-- Inform them how you'll be getting in contact with them (by phone
or mail)
to let them know when you'll be meeting to discuss the issue.
-- (optional) Would they like to be actively involved in the group?
What are
their areas of interest? What skills and time do they have?
-- (optional) What information do they have on the issue?
THE NAME OF YOUR GROUP:
Going public requires at least some informal definition of your group.
If you are not ready to choose a name at this time then identify yourselves
as
a group of people concerned with the issue (defined in general and
nonpolarizing terms) and then state your position (see Concerned Position).
If you choose a name make sure it reflects a group that is not taking
sides. A formal name could, for example, contain the word `concerned',
but
using the word `against' in your name would not be advisable. The word
`For'
could be used only if it redefined the issue to include both sides.
Make sure
that the first letters of each word in your name makes a phrase you
can live
with (ie: not be offensive) or perhaps even use to advantage. Also
avoid
defining your group too narrowly and thus excluding some people.
EXAMPLE:
The Coalition On Low Altitude Flights was known as COLAF. This was
an
easy to remember and pronounce name. A name that abbreviated to UPSET
would
not be consistent with a Concerned Position because it would be too
strong.
< SUMMARY 4 > CHOOSING A POSITION: AVOID ALIENATING PEOPLE, KEEP
OPTIONS OPEN
<< THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CONCERNED POSITION: >>
The Concerned Position, of raising your concerns without framing the
issue in terms of sides, is the cornerstone of your strategy for effective
action. It allows you to gather together a broad base of support without
alienating potential supporters or polarizing people into working against
you.
By taking a reasonable position and minimizing the use of confrontation,
you
become a credible group and people expect your concerns to be addressed.
This
allows you to keep all your options open and puts you in the best position
to
change the balance of power by appealing to the Larger Community.