Capacity Building Tips

Why Do We Need to Build and Sustain Relationships?

1. Community building occurs one-to-one. We need to build relationships with people one-to-one if we want them to become involved in your group or organization. Some people become involved in organizations because they believe in the cause. However, many people become involved in a community group or organization, just because they have a relationship with another person who is already involved.

2. We need relationships in order to win allies to our cause. In order to get support from people outside organizations, we need to build relationships in which people know and trust us.

3. Our relationships give meaning and richness to our work and to our lives. We all need a community of people to share the joys and the struggles of organizing and making change. A little bit of camaraderie goes a long way.

A 11 Step Program in How to Build Relationships

1. Build relationships one at a time. Fortunately or unfortunately, there are no short cuts. Sending out a newsletter helps you keep in touch with lots of folks, but it’s no substitute for getting to know a real person.
2. Be friendly and make a connection. This may seem self-evident, but a friendly word or smile can make someone’s day. Try to find something in common; all of us want to have close connections with others.
3. Ask people questions. People love to talk about themselves and about what they think. If you ask people about themselves and then take the time to listen attentively, they can become your fast friend.
4. Tell people about yourself. People won’t trust you unless you are willing to trust them. Tell them what you genuinely care about and what you think.
5. Go places and do things. When asked why he robbed banks, the robber replied, "Because that’s where the money is." If you want to make friends you have to go where the people are: conferences, events, fundraisers, meetings of others.
6. Accept people the way they are. You don’t have to agree with them all the time in order to form a relationship with them. No one likes to be judged.
7. Assume other people want to form relationships too. Underneath the crabbiest looking person is a lonely soul hoping someone will make a crack in their shell.
8. Overcome your fear of rejection. Most of us suffer from fear of rejection, but there’s only one thing to do about that – get over it. If you want to form relationships, plan on being rejected some of the time. You will be richly rewarded the rest of the time with the new relationships you have made.
9. Be persistent. People are often shy and suspicious. It takes a while to win trust. You can almost always form a relationship if you stick with it.
10. Invite people to get involved. People want to become part of something bigger than themselves. Many people are looking for an opportunity to meet other people who share common goals. At the worst, people will be flattered that you invited them to join.
11. Enjoy people. If you genuinely enjoy people, others will be attracted to your attitude. People will more likely want to be around you.

Source: The Community Tool Box

What is a Facilitator?

A facilitator is the neutral servant of the group and does not evaluate or contribute ideas. The responsibility of the facilitator is to help the group focus its energies on a task by suggesting methods and procedures, protecting all members of the group from attack, and making sure everyone has the opportunity to participate.

Facilitator Behaviors

· Neutral servant
· Doesn’t evaluate
· Focuses energy on task
· Suggests methods/procedures for accomplishing the task
· Protects individuals and their ideas from attack.
· Helps find win/win solutions.
· Gives everyone the opportunity to participate.

Facilitator Techniques
· Define your role
· Seek agreement on problem and process
· Boomerang questions
· Be positive
· Support the recorder
· Don’t be afraid to make mistakes
Suggestions for Facilitators
· Be aware of influences
· Be aware of your own biases
· Orient to time frame and task
· Develop group ground rules
· Stay focused in the present
· Choose a decision-making method
· Remember people properly disagree
· Close with you thanks
Source: CSAP, Institute for Partnership Development