Hey community leaders!
Way to go, you’ve built a team of partners and neighbors who represent all sectors and experiences in your community. You’ve also gathered new and old data on child care access and needs, and have identified key themes based on the information. Now, here you are, minutes after facilitating and leading the most robust community conversation your town has seen on child care innovations in a long time. Take a minute, breathe it in, the story was told, and the direction is set.
But wait, everyone is leaving the building. They’ve stacked their chairs in the corner and grabbed one more cookie for the road. You might be asking yourself – “Where is everyone going?” “How do I keep them on task?” “How do I ensure my team doesn’t get overwhelmed and the project goes stale?” ….”Now what?”
Keeping momentum going after those first conversations is where a lot of community projects fall flat. This halt in progress is not because your team doesn’t care, but because this work is hard, and the next steps can feel unclear or overwhelming. This blog is for the leader who is looking for steps to help their team maintain progress and focus, while understanding that it is okay to go home after a meeting.
- Progress Doesn’t Always Look Big
The next phase isn’t always a new child care program or a funding breakthrough. Sometimes, it’s something simple: making a to-do list, connecting with one new partner, or summarizing what was said at the last meeting. Progress is often quiet and behind the scenes. Make sure that those accomplishments get just as much celebration and attention as the flashy ones. - Staying in Motion as a Group
Consistency matters more than speed. Some core teams keep momentum by meeting monthly for at least 30 minutes. By maintaining the unity of the group through regular check-ins, revisiting the mission and vision of the work, and celebrating all wins, the team will see a consistent sense of purpose. - Mindful Check-in
- If you feel that you and your team have lost focus, take a moment to check-in using these questions:
- What did we hear from the community during the meeting that we haven’t followed up on yet?
- Is there someone missing from our table, especially if they were mentioned or attended the community meeting?
- What’s one small step we could take in the next 7, 14, and 30 days?
These kinds of questions help you move from “someday” to “next step.” Now that you have answered the questions for what to do, you need to think about who will be doing the work.
- You’re Not Alone in This Work
Community development work is hard to do with a team and near impossible to do alone. If you’ve made it this far, you likely have a team of community leaders who are invested in this work. Use their skills and ambition to push progress further. Delegation is a key skill in managing team progress.- Match tasks to strengths – Assign roles based on what people are good at or passionate about.
- Communicate – Make sure everyone knows what’s expected and by when.
- Trust your team – Let go of perfection and allow others to take ownership.
- Follow up and support – Check in regularly and offer support without taking over.
Among your support systems, you should consider the Zero to Five Montana team as a resource for you. Even if your group isn’t part of the current Community Child Care Capacity Building Cohort, there are still ways we can support you. Reach out if you are looking for guidance on the community development process, tools and examples, or for help preparing for the next cohort application.
If you’re working on child care in your community, or want to, you don’t have to wait for the perfect time or a formal invitation. You can reach out anytime for support from Zero to Five Montana team on how to get started.
Let’s figure out your next step together.
Shelby Whelan
Community Navigator
shelbyw@zerotofive.org
406-513-1115 ext. 111
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