I’ve spent the last couple of hours in conversations with folks who are frustrated because they feel limited in their options to effect change right now. I get it. We’re in the part of our political cycle where the general election steals attention away from the long game of advocacy.
However, there are still things we can do right now that will lay the groundwork for effective advocacy in the future. Today, we should be working on building our coalition. Building can mean educating our members, or providing them more tools of the trade, but most often it’s about growing our ranks.
Right now, let’s focus on sheer numbers. How do we grow our advocacy networks? One tactic you can leverage right now is taking action on behalf of those whose interests align with your organization’s.
Act is not a passive verb. There are immediate steps you can take to build good will within your network. And in modern advocacy, powered by the data economy, those steps are easy and accessible to all. But, as you consider this tactic, understand that you are committing to the long game of relationship building.
First – do your homework on the agenda items of advocates in your network. I’m in the agriculture sphere, but work extensively on energy issues, technology and broadband issues, tax policy, and environmental policy. In the midst of my own priorities, I work to identify groups with overlapping interests and endeavor to identify opportunities where we can further their efforts in ways that don’t conflict with our own interest.
It boils down to the old 80/20 rule. If someone agrees with me 80% of the time, that doesn’t make them my enemy 20% of the time.
(I’ll get you started with a shameless little plug for one of my top priorities, which you can learn about HERE.)
Second – identify a specific initiative they are working on right now, and help amplify their message. In today’s world, individuals often default to the social media sharing approach. But this is a passive approach. If you want to stand out in their efforts, participate in their formal calls-to-action then personally ask your network to do the same.
Within my own operations, we leverage a voter activation tool that allows folks visiting our website to send form letter emails to their legislators on any active campaign we are pursuing at the time. Social media likes and shares are fine for educating your network, but when push comes to shove advocacy organizations need you to participate in their formalized messaging. So, on their active campaigns take the 1-2 minutes necessary to add your name to their petition or send their form letter email to your representative. You’ll probably be surprised how easy it is to participate in the system.
Lastly – follow up. Modern technology lets professional advocates know when you’ve taken action on their cause. But if you want to stand out for having helped advance a cause, make sure to circle back with that team. Give it a few days – almost like waiting to call after a first date – and send a note to the organizational contact. Ask them how the campaign is going and if there is anything further you can do.
BUT – and this is a big but – you have to be genuine and humble, not seeking a quid pro quo. You must be willing, as you’re growing your own advocacy team, to give with out asking. By genuinely contributing to their efforts, you are placing them ahead of yourself, engendering good will and helping you build an infinite game mindset.
When we help others, we are in a very real sense helping ourselves. Consistently, this industry boils down to relationship building. You’ll hear this from me regularly because it’s the single most important concept to effective advocacy.
If you want a first step into building this approach into a habit, I’d invite you to check out an ongoing campaign I have in my own work. Follow this link and you can take action to support a bill my organization is working to get carried into the next Congress. If you think it aligns with your own goals, please take a moment and take action with me. Then, make sure to send me an email, drop a comment on this blog, or connect with me about it on LinkedIn. I’d be grateful for the opportunity to learn more about your own priorities and how we can work together in the future.
Part of the Possible 