Considerations for getting started

• Invite individuals who are interested in the shared concern or have a strong desire for change to a roundtable meeting to generate ideas and start building support and engagement.  
• Use consensus to develop the shared purpose of the social movement. Share this with others not engaged in the social movement to start building a broader base of support.
• Seek leaders (informal and/or formal) with capacities to engage in change.
• Take action early to build momentum once the shared concern or desired change has been determined and there is a readiness for change.
• Think strategically about the timing of the change; for example, the publication of new evidence (e.g., a new guideline) can act as a catalyst for change and prompt a push for action in response.

• Commit to changing the workplace culture and practice to support the development of frontline staff as informal leaders who engage in creating or co-designing change. Recognize that workplace culture is the creation of both informal and formal leaders and their dynamics.
• Seek to share power and use democratic processes and consensus to determine strategies for individual and collective action.
• Recognize and celebrate individual and collective agency in cases when small wins are achieved and progress is made.  

• Identify/prioritize what is most important to participants so that actions are meaningful to them.
• Use framing or positioning the shared concern or desired change in ways that connect ‘hearts and minds’ to support the change as credible and meaningful.
• Engage voting mechanisms, such as dot voting, to gauge components of the change such as relevance and impact. 
• Chart a course to monitor achievements or challenges. 
• Make sure the steps you take fit with the local culture.
• Keep supporters up to date with regular communication.

• Focus on building connections and relationships with other change agents. Seek to be transparent, positive about the change, and trustworthy to strengthen social ties.
• Ideally, bring people together face-to-face to build knowledge, supportive relationships and a shared purpose.
• Recognize the power of an existing shared sense of identity among groups. Harness collective identity to support collective action, where it aligns with the goals of the social movement. 
• Encourage change agents to act in solidarity with one another.  
• Recognize the value of supportive allies and welcome them to join the social movement.

• People: Find other individuals, groups, and networks whose goals align with yours. Join forces to build a critical mass of supporters.
• Material resources: Determine availability and accessibility of resources. If additional funds are needed to support the change initiative, seek organizational support. Consider the timing of requesting funds with organizational annual budgets.

SOURCES: Arnold et al., 2018; Casas-Cortés et al., 2008; del Castillo et al., 2016; Elsey, 1998; Kapilashrami et al., 2016; Herechuk et al., 2010; Waring & Crompton, 2017.