This resource is part of our Greenpeace organisers Build Your Power series.
Join Leadership in the Community — our Greenpeace Open Academy organising training for people ready to build real power in their communities.
We are living in a volatile political moment. Fossil fuel companies are profiting from multiple crises. Far-right actors are exploiting fear. Politicians are watching the polls and deciding how bold to be.
And yet — the majority of people want climate action. They want lower bills, clean air, thriving communities and a fair future. But support alone doesn’t shift politics — organised power does.
The POWER Leadership Course equips you with the skills, tools and confidence to grow strong, strategic local teams that can win real change.
Move people through a story, not just statistics.
- Use Story of Me–Us–Now to connect your personal “why” to shared community values — and to name the urgent choice before us.
- Apply the CARE Framework (Connect, Acknowledge, Reframe, Equip) to build trust, reframe problems as collective — not individual — and offer a clear, hopeful next step.
When people see a shared challenge, a courageous collective choice, and proof that action can lead to change, belief in collective power becomes the catalyst that moves them to join us.
Power is created — not claimed — it’s something we build in relationships, when people recognise shared interests and act together. Learn to answer the six organising questions: Who are our people? What change do they need? What’s our theory of change? What’s our goal? What’s our timeline? What tactics will we use?
Use tools like:
- Power Mapping
- Spectrum of Allies
- Ladder of Engagement
So you can: define a clear constituency, set measurable strategic goals, turn resources into organised people power.
Wins don’t happen by accident — they’re built.
Learn how to:
- Translate national strategy into smart local action
- Choose tactics that increase political cost and visibility
- Map escalation intentionally, not reactively
- Design actions with clear roles, follow-up and leadership pathways
- Move people from supporter → contributor → leader
Strong organising builds the snowball. Strategic campaigning throws it at the right moment.
When roles are clear and pressure is focused, local action drives national change.
Power grows where belonging is real.
Discover how to:
- Create leaderful spaces rooted in Purpose, Structure and Belonging
- Embed inclusion, equity and shared power into group culture
- Share roles, rotate leadership, and avoid “one big hat” organising
- Facilitate meetings that are participatory, energising and clear
- Build norms that make courage and care possible
Let’s build cultures where people can stay, grow, and lead.
Movements grow at the speed of trust.
Develop the skills to:
- Hold powerful 1:1 relational conversations
- Coach others using the GROW framework
- Deepen commitment through Circles of Engagement
- Share responsibility instead of carrying it alone
- Build resilience practices that prevent burnout
We don’t win by exhausting a few. We win by developing many.
Leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room — it’s about enabling others to achieve shared purpose under conditions of uncertainty.
What to expect
This course is designed to fit around real life. Most leaders complete it over 6–12 months, working through one module every 1–3 months depending on their group’s capacity and campaign rhythm.
You can expect to spend around one hour per week engaging with the content — watching videos, reflecting on activities, and applying tools directly in your local group. There’s no rush.
Leadership is built through practice, reflection, and repetition. The more you apply each module between sessions, the deeper your confidence and impact will grow.We’re not training for a moment. We’re building leaders for the long term.
When we organise locally, we shift national politics.
Ready to build your POWER?