Getting to know you conversation

A tool for understanding (even) more about your community.

In our community action it’s important that we get to know people around us, especially people who may benefit from or be impacted by the action we take. Taking the time to speak with others in meaningful ways and understanding how they see the world can give us insight into their values and experiences, help us strengthen our community initiatives or projects, and get more people on board. This Tool will help set the stage for trust, openness and sharing in your conversations as you engage others in your community.

Group Size: 2 - 40  

Time frame: 30 - 60mins

Materials: Pen, notepad, mobile phone (if not meeting people in person)

Preparation for the conversation

• Step 1: Identifying your participant

  This activity is about gathering insights from people outside your community group and project to understand what would make it more relevant to them. You can do this individually, or as a project team. 

  First, think of a friend / neighbour / person you’ve heard of who you know could join your group or benefit from your work. They will be your ‘participant’.

• Step 2: Writing your question list

  The most valuable aspect of a question list is the thought process that goes into writing it. Create a question list that is very readable, so you can glance at it quickly during your conversation. Think about what you don’t yet know about your community? Who do you want to engage and what do you want to learn about them? List the topics you’d like to explore in your conversations with your participant. 

• Step 3: Writing your question list - Starter Questions

  Write a couple of open-ended starter questions to relax your participant and help you get to know them. The questions should put them at ease.

  Now, write something you can DO (rather than say) to build rapport (make a cup of tea, arrange a walk in their area, talk on the phone rather than in person, etc). The best way to connect and encourage sharing is to listen deeply to the person in front of you, follow your curiosity and ask questions from your heart.

• Step 4: Writing your question list - Broader Questions

  Write several questions to explore engaging more people in your community project. Prompt bigger thinking than your participant may be accustomed to on a daily basis: e.g. “Tell me about a time when…(something related to your project or community)” or “What are the best/ worst parts about…(something related to your project or community)”.

Having the conversation

• Step 1: Let your participant lead

  During the actual conversation use the question list as a checklist to ensure you have covered everything — not as a script for the conversation, it is intended to help keep the conversation on target, but still allow for spontaneity. Let the person you are speaking with lead you to what matters to them. 

• Step 2: Listen

  Your body language, how you listen, the tone of your voice and your posture matter as much—if not more—than the questions you ask. 

  • Listen patiently. Do not interrupt, and give your participant time to think.

  • Allow for pauses. Try not to fill any silence. After asking a question give them time to reflect and answer. Don’t assume you know what they’re going to say or put words in their mouth. Let them articulate their thoughts in their own words.

• Step 3 Stay Curious

  Assume there is always more to understand. Stay curious and enquire in lots of different ways to keep the energy up. Ask your participant to SHOW you the object or space they are talking about, Have your participants DRAW what they are talking about. Keep asking “WHY?” in response to consecutive answers.

• Step 4: Capture what you see, hear and feel

  Take lots of notes and photos of what you see, hear, feel, smell and taste during a visit. Capture direct quotes. Take a few minutes after your conversation to capture or share with your community group what you learned. You can do this debrief virtually anywhere, but it should immediately follow the conversation.

Created by Amity. Inspired by Ideo.org DesignKit

For more tools and support with your volunteering work you can join the In Our Nature Learning Hub. The In Our Nature Learning Hub is an invitation to slow down, spend some time with yourself, and get a fresh perspective so that you can bring your best to your community and our planet. The Learning Hub is completely free for you to access at any point in your community (climate) volunteering journey and is open for everyone.