Editing Taking Action: Tactics & Timelines (section)

== Step 6: What is the Timeline? ==
[[File:Capacity v Time.png|thumb]]
The rhythm of organizing is the campaign: coordinated bursts of activity focused on achieving specific goals. Campaigns unfold over time with a rhythm that slowly builds a foundation, gathers gradual momentum with preliminary peaks, culminates in a climax when a campaign is won or lost, and then achieves resolution.

In organizing, we assume that we begin a campaign with far fewer resources than we will need to tip the balance of power and achieve our goal. We use relational tactics such as telling stories, recruitment phone calls, recruitment 1:1s, house meetings, coaching, and leadership development to grow our capacity (people, commitment, experience, money, skills, etc.) to have enough power to succeed. This capacity-building is what builds momentum. Like a snowball, each success contributes resources, which makes the next success more achievable. For more on relational tactics, see the Building Relationships section (pg. 29).

As we map our campaign, we identify milestones for when we will have created enough new capacity and developed enough power to undertake campaign tactics that we couldn’t before. '''Campaign tactics''' are when we mobilize our resources to affect change. Read on for more details of what happens during each step of a typical campaign timeline.

=== Foundation ===
During the foundation period, the goal is to create the capacity needed to launch a campaign. A foundation period may last a few days, weeks, months or years, depending on the scope of the undertaking and the extent to which you start ‘from scratch.’ Organizers prioritize relational tactics during the foundation period. This typically includes 1:1 meetings, house meetings, and meetings of small groups of supporters. This is a crucial period for leadership development.

=== Kick-Off ===
The kick-off is the moment at which the campaign officially begins, and is the first campaign tactic. Setting a date for a kick-off creates urgency and focuses the concentration and commitment it takes to get things going. The kick-off becomes a deadline for initial recruiting, planning, and preparation of materials. Ideally, a kick-off both builds public excitement and awareness for the campaign and is a sweet tactic which clearly implements the theory of change. The kick-off event allows organizers to exercise leadership, new recruits to be identified, and commitments made to the next campaign tactic(s).

Note that for organizers, the primary purpose of a kick-off isn’t to create a media event, but to bring in new people and establish commitment to the campaign. A kick-off is also a deadline for the formal delegation of leadership roles to those who will be responsible for carrying out the campaign.

=== Peaks ===
The campaign proceeds toward a series of peaks where campaign tactics occur, each one building on what has come before. By crossing the threshold of each peak, the campaign breaks through to the higher level of capacity needed to reach the next target. Each peak should have a measurable goal (e.g. decision passed by a local government, number of signatures on a petition, dollars raised towards a fundraising goal, etc.) that launches the campaign forward towards its next peak. This way, it is possible to measure success and make adjustments accordingly based on observable data.

=== Strategic Goal ===
The campaign peak comes at the moment of maximum mobilization when the campaign will achieve its strategic goal. Beware of peaking too early – often, campaigns accidentally peak at the kick-off. Your goal as an organizer is to have your campaign capacity reach its peak at the time when it is needed most. In some cases, the timing of this peak is predictable (e.g. when a decision is made by a regulatory body). In other cases, those who lead the campaign can designate the peak. In still other cases, the campaign peak emerges from the actions and reactions of all those playing roles in the campaign.

=== Evaluation, celebration and next steps ===
Campaigns are either won or lost. Only by risking failure do we make the kind of commitments that make success possible. Whether or not a campaign is successful, there is value in learning and celebrating the effort.

To succeed at winning, you must realize when you have won and learn to celebrate success.

Never claim a victory that’s not yours or pretend a loss is a win. It robs the effort of its value. We need to acknowledge a loss as a loss, and debrief the loss, interpret what happened, accept responsibility, recognize those who contributed, and prepare for what comes next.

Win or lose, a campaign should always conclude with evaluation, celebration, and preparation for next steps. When we win, we are sometimes so interested in celebrating, we forget to learn why we won, what we did right or wrong, and recognize those who contributed. When we lose, even when we do evaluate, we may not celebrate the hard work, commitment, courage, and achievements of those involved in the campaign. The important thing about campaigns is there is indeed a ‘next time’ and it is important to prepare for it. Or, as many a Canucks fan has remarked, “Just wait ‘til next season!”