ServicesServices

The Action Mill works with a wide range of partners that want to engage their constituencies and find new ways to reach their goals. Each project that we work on has different requirements, so we build our services to match what our clients need. Below is our list or services and four sample programs. We will work with you to design a workshop or consultation that best fits your organization's needs. 

See bottom of page for explanation of the exercises we use.  

Workshops

1/2 Day Workshop (2 Action Mill Members)

  • Action Is The Message Presentation
  • Consent Theory of Power and the Upside-down Triangle
  • Action Storm
  • No documentation

1-2 Day Workshop (3-4 Action Mill Members)

  • Action Is The Message Presentation
  • Future, Backwards
  • Consent Theory of Power and Upside-down Triangle
  • Action Storm
  • Prototype action design
  • Post-production: synthesis and notes

3-4 Day Workshop (3-6 Action Mill Members)

This Workshop is structured for group work sessions in the mornings and interviews, analysis and post-production in the afternoons. 

  • Pre-Workshop interviews
  • Action Is The Message Presentation
  • Future, Backwards 
  • Consent Theory of Power and Upside-down Triangle
  • Spectrum of Allies
  • Action Storm
  • Prototype action design
  • Post-production: synthesis, notes, photographic documentation and analysis. 

List of Services and Exercises

Action Is The Message Presentation: an introduction to our philosophy, our methods, and the importance of building meaningful actions into your campaign.

Perspective Presentation: understand traditional and "default" frames of reference while generating new frames for your campaign.

The OODA Loop: learn how to navigate a fluid, iterative action design process.

Consent Theory of Power and Upside-down Triangle: a tool that examines the power structure that supports your issue. Locate "touch points," or meaningful places where your constituencies interact with your issue.

Future, Backwards: an exercise that allows participants to describe their goals and fears in discrete anecdotes.

Spectrum of Allies: map the political landscape by examining allies and opposition. Explore strategies to move your issue by targeting and moving specific constituencies.

Action Storm: use the participatory design process to co-design some actions.

Prototype design: design a quick, lightweight version of one of your actions to test how it works in the field.

Post-production: Synthesis, notes, photographic documentation and analysis.

Tool design: The Action Mill will design and customize tools and a process that will allow your organization to sustain and utilize the processes you've learned.

The Organizational Grief Loop: understand apathy and despair among organizations and constituencies through an exploration of the grieving process. Think through ways to energize constituencies, reorganize your organization's processes and move towards innovative and strategic campaigns.

Personas: develop constituent personas and play out their experience in your campaign.

Coaching: For organizations looking to incorporate our methods into their work, we offer longer-term coaching to help you.