5 Quick Ideas - Community Groups and Coalitions

Building your presence in the community means more than knowing the key players.  It means building a relationship with the organizations that drive your community.  The unique position you have is that you can build these organizations if they don't exist, and when they do, you can be the coalition builder in just a few simple steps:

1) COME WITH IDEAS - There are plenty of things you can work together on as organizations.  Maybe its an update on the current trends in your industry, maybe its a policy discussion.  Being able to bring things to work on together is what will lead to gravitation in your direction.

2) MEET ON COMMON GROUNDS - Where is it important to be seen, and who is it important to be seen with is sometimes even more important than what it is you are doing.  Presence is about building a relationship not just for yourself, but for others.  Being able to make the right introduction to the right person can be more valuable than anything else.  As such making sure you always find opportunities to meet in a public place where other leaders congregate is a great idea.  If you don't know where that is, make one - set one meeting with one person at a location at 3, and an hour later someone else, and introduce them in passing.

3) DON'T PUSH - Coalitions are easy to build, but even easier to destroy.  Knowing when you are at the edge of what the group is comfortable with is an important factor to making sure your organization continues on.  There will be plenty of times where you drive the discussion, and plenty of times where you are dragging others along to a common goal.  But be sure to recognize those warning signs that you are going beyond their comfort zone.

4) SERVICE FIRST - Many of these organizations are predicated on the notion that service to the community is the goal of the organization.  Even business focused organizations.  It may not be your direct interest, it may not even be something you fully understand, but sometimes throwing caution to the wind and diving in to lend a helping hand in something you have no connection to goes much further than anything else, especially knowing that you are trying to drive an issue sometime soon.

5) FOLLOW UP - Anything you come up with, work on, decide, or even just show up for requires follow up in community groups.  Why?  Because no one does any follow up, and sometimes things you've asked for get forgotten.  Plus showing some initiative to follow up positions you as a leader, and someone people can rely on.  Use this to your advantage whenever possible.

Coalitions and community groups are great places to find support for issues, but the relationship must be there first. Build that and you will have more success.

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