Support through Ownership to Improve Effectiveness (Part 1)

I haven't posted as regularly because I've been busy at work and at church lately. It has been interesting to me how one concept has been reaffirmed repeatedly in the last two weeks. That concept is the essential key to community building, at the heart of democracy, and is one of the most powerful tools in building an organization, a movement, or community. 

The concept of creating support through building ownership come from 2 principles - 

1. Those most impacted by decisions should be involved in the decisions impacting them
   
2. Self-sacrifice and giving creates a greater level of ownership and involvement.

The importance here is that when we are given the opportunity to...

1. be involved from the beginning, 
2. give of our time, talent or other resources, and 
3. take an active role in decisions surrounding that activity or group, 

...then we tend to be committed longer, give more than we would have, and see more value in the results. 

Imagine I ask someone to do a construction job but share no vision with them, no blue prints, and no sketches. Then we wonder why the project didn't succeed or to level of quality we wanted. This happens all too often in community building. We as organizers, planners, leaders, decision makers treat people as recipients of our service rather than resources in the process. 

Many times we treat participants or members as if we are the Jordan river and they are the "Dead Sea" - the most mineral rich body of water on earth. We pour in resources and time (minerals/nutrients) and then expect them to miraculously take leadership or support our cause (growth/life). The reality is we have just saturated them with minerals and because there is no outlet for those resources to be shared or absorbed. 

The key message, in this Part 1 on Ownership, is that we cannot expect people to be involved because of us or our resources, we are replaceable. The most effective way to get others involved is because of their own self interest. We are our best motivators, our self interest is why we get involved and rarely will we do something because others want us to do it. Call it human nature, the flesh, or capitalism, the "what's in it for me" holds a powerful role in the programs, initiatives or ministries we manage. Capitalizing on it in a honorable and intentional way will advance our activities immensely.

Part 2 - Ownership to Citizenship to a stronger Community