TOOL

Doorstep chats

Description

Do you know this situation? You organise a meeting to discuss traffic calming in your neighbourhood and the people most affected by the noise don't show up. You are not the only one and there is a solution: Doorstep chats are an useful method to reach out to people that are not yet part of the discussion but are needed very much.

This is how you could structure a doorstep chat:

1. Start: 1-2 Sentences: Name, organisation, why are you ringing, if possible refer to common values
2. EMOTION: find out what moves the person you are talking to, ask open questions
3. HOPE: show how your plan is connected to what was said, show that change is possible!
4. ACTION: Now is the moment to ask your question (e.g. do they want to join the next meeting?)
5. Closing: Ask for a contact and say when you will get in touch again

Unlock-hypothesis

Doorstep chats can lead to a growing and more divers movement which is a crucial lever to unlock political Lock-ins.

Lock-in Layers

behavioural

Lock-in Cluster

Personal and Social Beliefs

Challenges

Lack of access to hard-to-reach groups, Lack of volunteers

Link for further information about the tool

https://linx.rosalux.de/fileadmin/linx/pdfs/241216_Bewegungsschule_RLS_Organizing_Werkzeug_Haust_uraktion__1_.pdf, https://commonslibrary.org/conversation-tips-for-stalls-events-door-knocking/

Link to tool materials

-

Level of effort for application

medium

Skill level needed for application

medium

Suitable spatial context

neighbourhood

Spatial limitation

no

Visualisation

Tool type

Action

Toolbox user types

NGOs/ local interest groups, Local government

Languages

german, english