Say Yes to the Ask:

How to Talk the Advocacy Talk

1:1 Conversations Workshop

#AAUW2013 @AAUWpolicy
 Roadmap: Where We’re Going

1.PSA: conversation model

2.PSA example
3.Conversation dos & don’ts
4.Concrete v. wishy washy asks
5.Getting commitment
6.Practice: overcoming tough
objections
7.Using back at home
I want to be part
of the action!
 Introducing PSA
Solution: Hope
Solution: Hope
What specifically & meaningful can be done about?

Problem: Anger Action: Opportunity

What are they angry about Make the specific &
or threatened by? doable ask
Organizing + Mobilizing
Solution
Organizing & Mobilizing

Problem Action
Organizing Mobilizing
 Organizing Conversations
You can’t mobilize her until you’ve organized her!
Intentional conversations that go deeply into a person’s:
 Issues: What we act on
 Interests: What’s our stake in it
 Values: Principles, what motivates us

Assessment from the conversation:

 Capacity: What resources can be offered
 Commitment: What resources are offered

It’s about building a relationship with her so you can then ask her to
take action.
 Find Their IIV
Interests: Why?
Why is that Issues: What
particular issue does this person
important to care about at
this person? school? At work?
In the larger
world?

Values: Guiding principles

 Assess Their CC

Capa n t =
city i tm e
Skill = m
s Com gness
i l l i n
W
 Mobilizing Conversations
Organizing + Mobilizing = Change for women!

Prompted conversations that make an ask:

 Goal: Link person’s issue to AAUW & make specific ask

Now that you’ve established a relationship with her,

you can make a tailored ask of her that she will
actually say “yes” to.
 1:1 Conversation Dos & Don’ts
Do
•Schedule time to have this
conversation
•Ask questions and plan to listen
•Follow the PSA
•Share experiences and deep
motivations
•Share a vision that articulates a
shared set of interests for change
•Be clear and very concrete about
“when” and “what” of the next
steps
Don’t
•Try to persuade rather than
listen
•Chit chat about private
interests
•Skip stories to “get to the
point”
•Miss opportunity to share
ideas about how things can
change
•End conversation without
clear plan for next steps
 1:1 Conversation Asks
Concrete Asks Wishy-Washy Asks
“We are having a branch meeting “Do you want to join our
next Thurs. at 8pm. Can you branch?”
come and help us brainstorm our
Equal Pay Day action?”
“We’re in the midst of a critical
letter to the editor push. We “Can you write a letter to the
need to get 10 more letters editor?”
written this week. Can you write
an LTE by this Friday? I can send
you our LTE guide, sample LTE,
and info on where and how to
submit it.”
Getting Commitment
Overcoming Tough Objections Exercise
 Using 1:1 Conversations at Home
If you’re a State Public Policy Chair:
• Have 1:1 conversations with each of your Branch Public Policy Chairs
over next 2-3 months as you prepare for 2013-2014 programming
If you’re a Branch Public Policy Chair:
• Identify 3-5 members who may be interested in joining a branch
public policy committee and have 1:1 conversations with each of them
If you serve on your state or branch board in another capacity:
• Share this training with your fellow board members and set a goal of
each member having 1:1 conversations with 5 members in the next 2-
3 months
If you’re a general AAUW member:
• Have a 1:1 conversation with a prospective member
Use the PSA model for every “ask” you make