Are the right people at the Table? The Key to Coalition Building.

The temptation when working to advance social change is to build as large of a coalition table as possible. The implicit assumption is that if there are many hands, the load will be light.  In actuality, we should take more care to ensure that we are each at the right table relative to the work of the coalition. If we don't we risk creating dysfunctional, chaotic, and ineffective coalitions. If we're at the wrong table, coalitions can become time sucks, zones of frustration and stress that leave us wondering if it is worth our investment. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be this way. More is possible. 

It may be time to shuffle the chairs! Elevate your coalition building.

The core of your coalition should be led by the group of partners who are value aligned, goal aligned, strategy aligned, and possess the skills and capacity necessary to help carry the load and move the work forward. These are the folks who will meet the most, make most of the decisions, and invest the most into the success of the campaign.  One tier out are those organizations that are aligned but lack capacity to meaningfully contribute. These are your aligned partners. They should be asked to publicly sign on to support the initiative or policy change you’re seeking and show up when and where they can but they should not be expected to actually hold the campaign in any sustaining manner.  

TC framework for how to determine who should be at your coalition table.

Beyond the two inner tables is the larger table that represents the broader ecosystem of organizations that are also committed to solving the problem you are working to solve. These organizations are not likely to join your coalition – nor do you want them to!  They are allies from a distance that agree with the need to make a change but would rather do so in a different manner than those at the inner two tables. These are partners you engage rarely, and usually only with a goal of ensuring they do not shift from distant ally to adversary.  

Take a moment to reflect on your coalition tables. Is it time to shuffle the seats? Are you at the right tables? Do you have the right folks at your tables?

Check out our trainings on how to build more cohesive and effective coalitions

EFFECTIVE COALITIONS