How Do We Get Started?

Establish Clarity of Purpose

Think about successful projects that you've been part of. What was the reason for their success? Think about unsuccessful projects that you've been part of. What was the difference? One key to success begins with people being clear about why they have come together and what it is that they are interested in doing together--clarity of purpose.

Clarity of purpose is essential. Are you gathering to provide social connection, inspiration and support? To engage in activism? If so, what would that look like? The more clarity you begin with, the more smoothly the process will unfold. You will attract people with shared intentions to your project. There will always be some differing opinions and competing goals, but when you begin with clarity of purpose, the project wil progress more smoothly.

Every community is in a different place regarding their openness to consider new cultural values. To gather a group of people with a shared clarity of purpose who are willing to take the next step, try:

• Talking with people
• Posting notices
• Connecting with Wiserearth.org and other social networking websites that can link you up with others in your area that share your interest.

Identify Goals and Objectives

When you share clarity of purpose in the broad sense, more specific goals and objectives will be easier to identify. Goals don’t have to be formal or even written, but it helps to be able to revisit the original goal of an effort, when in the midst of it. It also helps a group to recognize success when they see it.

You will also want to develop a plan for documenting outcomes and evaluating results in relation to your original goals and objectives. This an important component of any project or initiative. It can help demonstrate that people’s time and energy has been well spent, or serve as a learning tool when the end result was not desirable. 

Engage in Partnership Activities

Here are just a few partnership activities that your group might engage in depending on your goals and objectives:

• Use the Partnership Attitude Self-Assessment to see where people’s opinions are around Partnership. Take chances, try new things. Let us know what works and what doesn’t.
• Invite one of the speakers from the CPS Speaker's Bureau to speak to your group.
• Read and discuss Building Foundations for Cultures of Peace, a short article in which Eisler outlines strategies for making the cultural shift from domination to partnership.
• Start a book study and action group on The Power of Partnership and The Real Wealth of Nations
• Facilitate an ongoing partnership discussion group using these resources:
• Share the Caring Economics and Full Spectrum Economics Talking Points with those focused on building partnership economics.

Adapted from materials prepared for the Center for Partnership Studies by Kathleen Hermes, M.A. Transformative Leadership, Partnership Concentration at the California Institute of Integral Studies.