Starting a Movement
Leadership Core Training
Starting a movement
Movements are powerful forces for change and for shaping society. They are fueled by the passions and belief that things can be better. It starts out as an idea or belief held by one or a few and then begins to spread to more people. Movements are not only forces for change in society but also for the people who are bringing the change. Leadership is about change. It is about moving people toward a goal. If you see people being led in a direction they are a part of a movement. In this course, you will learn how to harness the power of belief and the passions that bring true, lasting change. You will learn how to start and maintain a movement that will take your vision from being an idea in people's minds to being a guiding force for changing the world.
session 01
THE LEADER, THE MESSAGE, AND THE MISSION
Every movement starts with a person who cares about something and wants the rest of us to care about it. They are the first believers and passionate seekers. As their passion and ability to articulate their message grows, they begin to express it to as many people as possible. Their message becomes a clarion call for all who will listen and be moved by it. A mission begins to arise inside of them. They are consumed with the desire to see people's lives changed in the direction of their mission. Leaders of movements have two goals. First and foremost, they want to see the world change according to the new truth they are living for. Secondly, to get as many people as possible to a part of spreading the word and living the principles espoused by their message. In this class, you are going to learn the process through which a movement is birthed.
Duration: 1 hour
Materials needed: Becoming a Leader Slidebook, note-taking resources.
session 02
STARTING A FIRE
Starting a movement is a lot like starting a fire. You need three things: fuel, a spark, and the right atmosphere that is rich with faith to sustain the burning passion. This sounds easier than it looks because starting a fire is easy but if your intent is to have that fire continue for a span of time you have to make sure that you have ample fuel and can continue to have the right atmosphere. Many people start fires and they fizzle out, so they never accomplish what they intended to. Therefore, learning to start a fire is important because it is where the leader makes their fire public and begins to pass it to others. This is the place where the clarion begins to ring out, creating an awareness and sense of urgency. In this course, we are going to learn the principles and actions a leader needs to start a movement.
Duration: 1 hour
Materials needed: Becoming a Leader Slidebook, note-taking resources.
session 03
THE COMPONENTS OF A MOVEMENT
Understanding the various components of a movement and how they work together is critical to managing and steering the movement a leader has started. These components are the internal gears and machinery of the movement and are responsible for the outer dynamic that impacts those following. Each component is important to the outcome of the movements. Many movements have experienced breakdowns because like an engine, or any other type of machinery, these components can become worn down. The leaders that understand the various components and seasons of a movement can make the necessary adjustments to move forward pass obstacles and take advantage of the opportunities that are emerging as they move along. In this class, we will cover the anatomy and phases of a movement. Each leader will be introduced to some amazing tools to diagram the movements they are leading.
Duration: 1 hour
Materials needed: Becoming a Leader Slidebook, note-taking resources.
session 04
STRATEGIZING
Putting in the time to study and understand the nature of the change you want to bring will be important to achieving your goals in the movement a leader is undertaking. This will also be important in developing the strategies and plans for the movement. The more detailed a leader is about how they intend to accomplish their goals, the easier it will be for them to articulate their vision. It will also serve them well in difficult seasons when then they need to clarify their goals and vision. Because of the obstacles and difficulties movements tend to run into, it will be important to continue to stay informed about the changing landscape and people being impacted by it. In this class, we will cover a process for troubleshooting and problem-solving. We will also look at the skill of forecasting. This is important in deciding what should be done next.
Duration: 1 hour
Materials needed: Becoming a Leader Slidebook, note-taking resources.
session 05
THE FOLLOWERS
Every movement has followers, and their are all types of followers. Each type of follower is the result of different aspects of the movement. Understanding how they help you advance and where they are most useful is going to be critical. It is an important part of leading your movement. Each person has a different relationship to the cause you are advocating for. Each person has a different relationship to the leader of the cause. Each person is able to bring something different to help the movement's mission. Creating a system that gives your followers access to what they need to continue to support the movement will be crucial to its longevity. In this class, we cover the different types of followers and what they need to continue to follow. We will also cover the structures and interfaces you can create to provide them access to you and you access to them.
Duration: 1 hour
Materials needed: Becoming a Leader Slidebook, note-taking resources.
session 06
FUELING THE MOVEMENT
What are the things that keep the movement moving? What are the things that keep it alive? What are the things that allow it to grow and spread to more people? The answers to these questions are connected to understanding what fuels the movement and how it is fueled. Without fuel the movement stops moving. Without fuel the movement dies. Without fuel the movement cannot grow or spread. The leader of a movement knows that their words and presence is a major fuel for the movement. However, there are other things that fuel movements and can take them to another level. The bigger the movement, the more fuel will be needed. The faster the movement is growing, the more quickly you need the fuel. In this class, we cover where to get the fuel for your movement and how to mange that fuel.
Duration: 1 hour
Materials needed: Becoming a Leader Slidebook, note-taking resources.
session 07
LEADING THE CHARGE
As the movement grows and spreads, the role of the leader will change. There will be more people to help with things that leaders were solely responsible for. Many people will come and want to identify with the movement for one reason or another, so the leader must wear new hats and allow others around them to wear those old hats. The leader will have to lead leaders. They will have to understand how to publicly guard the reputation of the movement and the leaders within in it. They will have to work with other leaders outside of their camp, even those who are against them. One of the most important things they will have to do is create new maps for the unchartered places they are entering. This helps their team understand where they are going, navigate through the obstacles ahead, and take advantage of their positioning. This stage of leading can seem even more difficult than starting the movement. In this class, we will cover the leadership strategies and tacts that each leader needs to have to move forward through the difficult stages of a movement. We will also cover how a leader can take advantage of new opportunities.
Duration: 1 hour
Materials needed: Becoming a Leader Slidebook, note-taking resources.
session 08
BUILDING MOMENTUM
Momentum is the friend of every leader. It's what we dream of having in any venture we are undertaking. It makes everything easier. Momentum is a product of both getting the internal culture and operations in sync with the vision, mission, and values and breaking through rejection from people you are trying to reach to being accepted by more individuals. The movement has become effective and efficient and can move pass hazards and obstacles with ease and sometimes uses them as fuel for forward movement. The name and reputation of the movement inspires people to act and consider changing. Many breakthroughs begin to occur at this stage. Maintaining the momentum of the movement is key to not only advancing but creating more opportunities to move deeper into the work. In this class, we will cover the dynamics of momentum as well as the results of those dynamics. We will also cover the techniques for building and maintaining momentum.