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Choosing or inventing a successful tactic often involves intuition, guesswork, and always risk, but the more we study our contexts, the better we become at judging when to use which approach. [source: the-tactic-star-tool] Projecting and measuring success is complex, but we should not let the murkiness of these waters deter us from analyzing them, as patterns do emerge and we can learn a great deal from our experiences when we critically analyze them. [source: the-tactic-star-tool] This tactic star names key factors that change agents should consider when determining their tactics, and the same tool can be used to evaluate actions after they have been carried out. [source: the-tactic-star-tool]

The points of the Tactic Star include Strategy, Message, Tone, Timing, Audience, Allies, Resources, and Target. [source: the-tactic-star-tool] Strategy asks how the tactic will move us toward achieving our goal. [source: the-tactic-star-tool] Message considers what the tactic will communicate, what it will mean to others, and how it will carry a persuasive story. [source: the-tactic-star-tool] Tone examines whether the action will be solemn, jubilant, angry or calm, and whether the energy will attract or repel the people we want to engage. [source: the-tactic-star-tool] Timing asks if we can leverage unfolding events and new developments as opportunities, and whether the political moment holds potential for us or vulnerability for our opponents. [source: the-tactic-star-tool]

Audience considers who we want to reach with our tactic and what response we want our action to inspire in them. [source: the-tactic-star-tool] Allies examines how the tactic will affect our allies or potential allies, how they will receive it, and whether it will strengthen the relationship or jeopardize it. [source: the-tactic-star-tool] Resources asks if the action is worth our limited time, energy and money, whether we can get more out of it than we put in, and whether we have the capacity to pull it off effectively. [source: the-tactic-star-tool] Target considers what message the tactic will send to the people who have the power to meet our demands, and whether it will pressure them to capitulate or enable them to dismiss us or retaliate. [source: the-tactic-star-tool]

Jonathan Matthew Smucker updated the Tactic Star, bringing in other strategy tools including the Spectrum of Allies, Battle of the Story and Points of Intervention, and this updated version is called the Action Star, included in the Beautiful Trouble tool collection. [source: the-tactic-star-tool] You can download the Action Star, as well as the original Tactic Star, as printer friendly PDFs. [source: the-tactic-star-tool] Holly Hammond from the Commons Social Change Library talks through the Tactic Star, Action Star, and other resources for creative activism. [source: the-tactic-star-tool]

Use it for

A campaigner uses the Tactic Star to determine their tactics by considering eight key factors: Strategy, Message, Tone, Timing, Audience, Allies, Resources, and Target. [source: the-tactic-star-tool] The same tool can be used to evaluate actions after they have been carried out, helping campaigners critically analyze their experiences and learn from patterns that emerge. [source: the-tactic-star-tool] Campaigners can also download the Action Star, an updated version that incorporates additional strategy tools like the Spectrum of Allies, Battle of the Story, and Points of Intervention. [source: the-tactic-star-tool]

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