I had a healthy reminder in a meeting with a legislator recently. The group I was with was a bit…long winded…when it came to introductions. Which prompted a question I hate to hear from the elected official: “so, are you going to tell me why you’re here?” You could immediately feel the momentum of theContinue reading “Advocacy Meetings 104: Know Your Ask and Get to It”
Tag Archives: Organizational Culture
What we get wrong about optimism
I’m not an optimist because everything is right in my world. I’m an optimist because it’s in our power to change what’s wrong.
Advocacy Meetings 102: Your Story Is Your Superpower
Don’t tell any of my lobbyist friends I said this, but more often than not a volunteer advocate holds greater sway with elected officials than a paid lobbyist. Constituencies are inherently important to politicians. Losing touch with those they represent is usually the short road to losing the next election. This pressure to connect canContinue reading “Advocacy Meetings 102: Your Story Is Your Superpower”
Advocacy Meetings 101: Managing the Clock
Life a Browns fan instills an incredible amount of patience. This past weekend was rough. In all aspects of the game, it seemed like they just hadn’t shown up for the game. Despite a spark on the opening drive, I found myself spending the remaining 3 hours wishing the clock would just move faster toContinue reading “Advocacy Meetings 101: Managing the Clock”
Beware the Victory Lap
It’s fine to celebrate a win, but in the coming days, you’ll own the problems you ran to correct.
Your Words Have Meaning
We’re getting it wrong from the very beginning. We’ve eroded the definition of advocacy. Until we recognize that fact, we can’t begin to improve. What do I mean? I was listening to a presentation on advocacy for a non-profit organization last week. In the hopes of illuminating the field to aspiring volunteers, the well-intentioned trainerContinue reading “Your Words Have Meaning”
Amplifying Appreciation in Advocacy
Abe Jacob is a Government Relations professional in Columbus, Ohio. Connect with him on LinkedIn It’s hard to imagine that a simple lesson so many of us were taught as children has often wound up on the back-burner in our everyday lives. Of course, conveying words of appreciation after someone holds the door for youContinue reading “Amplifying Appreciation in Advocacy”
When Pressure Becomes Your Poison Pill
There is no “right” way to follow someone into a public restroom and record the event. Ever. Sometimes it amazes me how far people will go to wreck their own causes. And if you don’t know what I’m writing about today, here’s a quick summary. This past Sunday, US Senator Kyrsten Sinema was back inContinue reading “When Pressure Becomes Your Poison Pill”
What’s Your C.A.P.?
Last week, I posted a poll on LinkedIn asking folks what turns them off in modern politics. I gave three options because, in my book, the barriers in front of most of us boil down to three categories: Cost, Access, and Partisanship. And just because I know you needed another acronym in your life, IContinue reading “What’s Your C.A.P.?”
The One Where They Pivot
There are just some days when you feel like Chandler Bing trying to squeeze a sofa up a stairwell. No matter what you do, nothing is working the way it should. You’re trying to “PIVOT!” but circumstances keep getting in the way. Without stretching the metaphor, I’ll just go ahead and admit that yesterday morningContinue reading “The One Where They Pivot”
Part of the Possible 