1:1 Conversations Workshop
#AAUW2013 @AAUWpolicy

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

Solution: Hope
What specifically & meaningful can be done about?
Problem: Anger
What are they angry about or threatened by?
Action: Opportunity
Make the specific & doable ask

Solution
Organizing & Mobilizing
Problem
Organizing
Action
Mobilizing

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.

Interests: Why?
Why is that particular issue important to this person?
Issues: What does this person care about at school? At work?
In the larger world?
Values: Guiding principles

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.

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

Concrete Asks Wishy-Washy Asks
“We are having a branch meeting next Thurs. at 8pm. Can you come and help us brainstorm our
Equal Pay Day action?”
“We’re in the midst of a critical letter to the editor push. We need to get 10 more letters 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.”
“Do you want to join our branch?”
“Can you write a letter to the editor?”

Recruit
Thank
You
Confirm
Evaluate Confirm
Action

Overcoming Tough Objections Exercise

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