Oracles of Organizing

Most faith traditions have a set of explicit rules or precepts. Commonly known are the Ten Commandments, often expressed in the world's three major religions; Judaism, Christianity and Islam. While many of the other world religions don’t have commandments explicitly, you will clearly find moral codes or wise instructions to live by.

Most community traditions have a set of explicit or implicit rules, codes, or wise instruction to live by as well. I remember my scoutmaster often saying, “If you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail.” I vividly remember my dad, who was also my childhood baseball coach, tell our team to, “use your head for more than a hat rack.” This was an encouragement to think about the game and not simply go through the motions while playing.

Community Organizing is no different, there are many precepts, codes and wise instructions that have been passed down in the rich tradition of Organizing work. I call these the Oracles of Organizing. These ‘rules’ have been passed down over many generations of Organizing and the exact author is rarely ever known but their contribution lives on to this very day. 

Don’t Do For Others What They Can Do for Themselves

This Oracle is designed to discourage Organizers from treating the community they are organizing in as helpless. At the same time it’s designed to encourage Organizers to constantly develop leadership skills with the people they are organizing in as well. In the truest sense Organizers support communities by developing everyday leaders who all lead together. 

If you as an Organizer are performing every critical task, it's probably very clear that you are not developing everyday leaders, you are developing clients who are dependent on you, and that’s not Organizing. Who should chair the meeting, an everyday leader. Who should take the notes, an everyday leader. Who should draft the public statement, an everyday leader. Who should be speaking when your group goes to speak with the Mayor, yes you guessed it, an everyday leader.

As an Organizer, when you have built a solid cadre of everyday leaders and they do need you any longer.

Congratulations, smile and move on because your job with that particular community is done.