Blog by Adin Becker and Kathryn Lang
We have released a new episode in our podcast series Leadership, Organizing, and Action featuring HKS Professor Marshall Ganz. In the fifth episode of this series, Ganz discusses action as the transition point where organizing moves from theory to reality. He explains that action is the mobilization and utilization of resources; it’s where “the rubber hits the road.” Pulling from his experiences in the Farm Workers movement and other organizing campaigns, Ganz notes the principle that “if you can’t count it, it didn’t happen,” reflecting the importance of measurable outcomes in creating lasting change. According to Ganz, action is what connect strategy to tangible outcomes, moving from “heart work” and “head work” to the “hands work” that actually changes the facts on the ground.
In the episode, Ganz also introduces the Four C’s of commitment – connection, context, commitment, and catapult – as a framework for turning intention into action. He emphasizes the distinction between getting a “yes” versus an ambiguous “I’ll try,” and shares anecdotes from his organizing experiences, from the timing of reminder calls to the effectiveness of using ironing boards instead of card tables during voter registration drives. Ganz shows how proper metrics aren’t just tools for control, but mechanisms for learning and motivation. He uses examples from the Obama campaign to underscore how seeing one’s contribution as part of a larger whole can be motivating. The episode finished with insights into what constitutes effective action. According to Ganz, it requires both motivational energy and disciplined commitment. Change occurs due to careful craft, not mere intention.
To learn more about Marshall Ganz’s work and the five key practices of people, power, and change, visit:
- Practicing Democracy Project: As Marshall’s faculty-led program, the Practicing Democracy Project leverages its position at a major research university and educational gathering place for leaders from around the world to engage with students, scholars and practitioners to advance democratic practice globally.
- Leading Change Network: An independent 501(c)(3) organization for a global community of organizers, practitioners, educators and researchers catalyzing change through the power of narratives, rooted in the pedagogy and practice of community organizing.
Leadership, Organizing, and Action is a 6-part podcast series highlighting the five key practices of people, power, and change. Listen to episodes 1 – 5 and stay tuned for the final episode, which will be released in January.