No One Will Give A Damn If You’re Not Genuine

What do you say to a Member of Congress – or their staff – when you finally have a chance to meet with them?

Yesterday I had an opportunity to speak with a local Rotary club. I love these civic organizations that bring diverse individuals together. They are miniature demonstrations of our ability to work together toward common goals. And ever since the first time I attended a Rotary meeting as a young congressional staffer, I’ve always had a special place in my heart for Rotarians.

This group asked me to come and speak about advocacy and why they’re engagement as individuals is just so important. This wasn’t a formal training, but a quick reminder on why they matter. But there’s one item from my remarks I just wish I’d had more time to explore:

The importance of authenticity.

You see, we talked about a lot of what you’ve seen written on this site: the value of storytelling and relationship building, the necessity of showing up, and some of what you can do to really stand out.

But even if you do all those things right and are brilliant in the basics, your efforts can fall apart if you fail to show up as your most authentic self. No one will give a damn about you – or your cause – if you’re not genuine.

What do I mean by that?

Congressional staff spend a lot of time meeting with constituent groups. A lot of time. And in all of that time one skill becomes acutely honed: they can tell pretty well when folks are just going through the motions.

Talking points are a dime a dozen. Every advocacy organization arms their volunteer advocates with those basics. What stands out is when an advocate takes the concept of those talking points and can weave them into their own life story. When we connect the dots for staff in this way, it helps humanize our issues and add just the right touch of authenticity to help you stand out.

We place so much pressure on ourselves to be flawless when we’re fighting for our causes. That’s both understandable and incredibly burdensome. If you are showing up as your authentic self, you stand a good chance of capturing their fleeting attention and being remembered. Balance that with a respectful approach to relationship building, and you’re well on your way to making big strides for your cause.

Authenticity – being genuine – affords space for targeted decision makers to see you in the light of your many identities. Yes, I’m a Marine and may be talking to them about veterans issues. But I can connect with them better as a parent, an employee, a business owner or even a Star Wars fan. Gaining that space in conversation will feed your ability to have the next meeting, and the next, and the one after that.

All of a sudden, you may just find yourself in the sweet spot: cumulative and iterative conversations leading to them pushing their team to take an action. That’s the ballgame.