Translating Intentions into Action with "Meeting, Missing, Matching"
In a recent meeting with a client, I was struck by how focused they were on doing—they were a "hyper-functional" organization, always ready to jump into action. AND, they were deeply committed to inclusion and equity. However, despite their enthusiasm, they struggled to turn their equity commitments into everyday practices. This is where our "meeting, missing, matching" framework became helpful.
Meeting involves being clear-eyed about who you're actually serving and understanding the characteristics of those audiences. It's different from who your services are available to. For example, if you're offering school-based financial education, any school can sign up. But in reality, which schools are you going to? Are they schools with ample resources or those in rural areas with fewer opportunities?
Missing is often the flip side of meeting. If you're primarily in urban centers, you might be missing rural students. But missing groups can also exist within the populations you think you're serving. Take a technical high school that's open to everyone. You might see equal participation among students from various economic backgrounds, but perhaps students with disabilities aren't enrolling, or there are few girls in the higher-paying career tracks—they're missing out.
Matching means confronting your service design to understand these patterns. For whom do your services truly "match"? How can you redesign your offerings to better serve students with disabilities—perhaps by providing additional support? How might you adjust your communications to encourage more girls to explore fields like manufacturing? By rethinking your design, communication, and overall approach you can create more inclusive outcomes.
The "Meeting, Missing, Matching" tool offers a practical way to turn intentions and commitments into actionable strategies, ensuring organizations not only open doors but also guide everyone through them. To try it out for yourself, download our worksheet. You can also hear Stacy talk more about this on the Smart Communications Podcast recorded this summer.
Are you ready to find out who you’re meeting, missing, and matching? Book a call with a member of the SWIM team.