Jordan Kauffman, a young professional with a strong voice for making a difference in our community has experience with community organizing and the concept of relational meetings. These two concepts are worth exploring as models of leadership that can also apply in the workplace.
Tell readers a little about yourself.
I’m a proud Des Moines native, and after living throughout the country, I moved back here 4 years ago. I am currently serving in the Public Allies Iowa AmeriCorps program, which has been an incredible leadership development & national service opportunity. I have a background in urban planning, so I get very excited about things like beekeeping, stormwater management, and asset-based community development. I love doing yoga, painting, playing the piano, and singing karaoke with my friends. Saying my interests are varied would be an understatement!
What are relational meetings?
Relational meetings are the very heart of community organizing. And so in order to best define the relational meeting, I think I need to define my understanding of community organizing. Many people have a preconceived notion of organizing as a highly contentious, confrontational activities that pits “underdogs” against “bad guys.” In fact, some of this stereotype is borne from the historical roots of the labor union organizing movement. But community organizing can take many forms, and looks very different today. What does remain true, however, is that Community Organizers seek to meet people in the world as it exists, understand their passions & concerns, and work with them to construct meaningful, sustainable tactics in order to overcome problems so that the world becomes how we’d like it to be, little by little.
So again, the relational meeting is the heart of community organizing. A face-to-face, one-on-one meeting with the intention of exploring the possibility of a public relationship in reference to a specific cause or project. Because you want to know more about that person – their talent, energy, interests, and vision. The most important part of a relational meeting is being a good listener! You know you’re doing a good job listening when you’re easily able to ask questions that keep the person talking about the things that are important to them. Pay attention to what topics create the highest energy & most interest, and especially the stories they share. Be prepared to share authentically about yourself as well!
There is only one thing to ask for after a relational meeting – IF the person expresses interest & excitement about learning more or getting involved, THEN you make an invitation based on THEIR interest. The relational meeting is a highly powerful tool for developing effective, sustainable relationships as they pertain to your organization.*
* The italicized info above is paraphrased from a handout I received at the AMOS (A Mid-Iowa Organizing Strategy) training – just want to give credit where credit is due 😉
Learning the craft of the relational meeting is absolutely a practice-makes-perfect thing, and one I am still working on! What has been fascinating to me, though, is how this method of setting an intention of exploring a public relationship related to a mutual interest or common goal and then sharing information in an active listening setting can have such striking results! When we approach new potential colleagues or collaborators, infusing our conversations with authenticity pays off in leaps & bounds.
What has it been like to apply this concept to the work you do?
Applying this concept of creating meaningful, sustainable relationships has really become the backbone of all the work I do – whether that be through the Public Allies Iowa program serving at the Polk County Health Department, as part of the Communications Team for the Forest Avenue Community Orchard in Riverbend, or as a volunteer baseball coach for my son’s Little League team.
What motivates you to keep learning new concepts/skills like relational meetings?
I have always been driven by a nearly unquenchable thirst for knowledge, and I am always grateful for the opportunity to continue learning! I’m a little bit like Sherlock Holmes – when something doesn’t add up, I simply have to “get to the bottom of it”!
Do you consider yourself a leader or an emerging leader?
I do consider myself a leader, because I believe leadership is action anybody can take – not just a role a few privileged can hold. But I also consider myself an emerging leader because I’m always learning, always developing, and always growing. All the experiences I have, and each new person I meet & connect with, everything informs my development as a leader. So it’s a very active, ongoing process.
