| Using Dosti's Axis of Influence |
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Dosti's Axis of Influence is designed to be used by a group of people. Because of this networks may find it helpful to involve a facilitator when working with the Axis. Dosti has trained 21 facilitators who can support use of the Axis of Influence. Contact Lorna Prescott if you would like to find a facilitator.
Working through the axis using the worksheets in the handbook may take a while, and it is suggested that any group using it begins with a quick look at the 10 steps to influence to get an initial feel for their capacity to influence.
The vertical axis identifies 10 steps to influence, for example:
Community networks can discuss and debate each of these in turn, agreeing their position. Each step has indicators to help networks determine where they are situated on the vertical axis. The horizontal axis is quite simply a continuum representing the degree of influence that networks feel they have. This could range from ‘no influence’ to ‘a lot of influence’. It provides an opportunity for networks to make a judgement about how influential they are, based on the knowledge they have at any given point.
It encourages networks to think about the things that can stop them from being influential no matter how organised they are. It is about the context they are working in - the political landscape, the ‘real world’.
Why bother plotting influence?Most of the networks who have joined Dosti have expressed a desire to influence to change systems, policies and processes to improve the quality of life for local communities.
The reasons for keeping track of levels of influence are the same as the reasons for wanting to influence in the first place: to know that change has happened – and to understand how it happened. Plotting progress can also help to demonstrate achievements – to communities, to each other, to agencies, to funders, supporters and wider audiences.
Tracking and planning are intrinsically linked, so plotting progress as it happens can also help community networks to think about what needs to happen next and plan for the future.
The Axis of Influence Handbook is available on our downloads page - go to the influence section.
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