10 Tips to Effective Advocacy

You can participate in the decision making process that affect youth and communities whether that be through the State Legislature, U.S. Congress, your city council, county board of supervisors or local school board.

Let your public officials know what you want.  They cannot possibly know all the details about every issue.  They rely on you, as a constituent, to keep them informed.

Every issue is different.  Every public official is different.  Yet there are a few universal principles for presenting your case to public officials.  These apply to all advocacy efforts.

To find out who your elected representatives are, call the League of Women Voters in your area or the county Elections Department. 

1.       Be informed.  Do your homework.  Learn as much as you can about your issues.  Be ready to explain how a law or policy affects you, your family, and your neighborhood.  Know, too, what the opposition’s arguments will be.  Be ready for questions and have as many answers as you can.  If you are in doubt, “I don’t know, but I will find out", is a very good answer.

2.       Tell the truth.  You only get one shot at credibility.  If you lose it, you lose it forever.  Don’t stretch, embellish, or fudge on information.  Don’t fake it.  You can always give the person accurate information later.  If you promise someone information, get back to that person soon.  This also gives you another chance for a meeting or phone conversation.

3.       Always thank people who help.  Even if you did all the work, always thank a public official who helped in any way.  Everyone likes recognition.  For you, getting the job done is what really matters.  It does not matter who gets the credit.

4.       Know how the process works.  You can get information from the state capitol on how the legislative process works.  City councils, school boards, and other decision-making bodies have guidelines on how you get information to their members.

5.       Get to know your representatives and the people who work for them.  Like anyone else, decision-makers relate best to people they know.  The more often a person sees you, the more likely that person will be listening to you.  The friendlier you are at each visit, the more likely that the person will be to remember your issues.  Don’t neglect the decision-maker’s staff.  Especially in the Legislature and Congress, staff are often the most informed and influential.

6.       Keep it simple.  Think your position through before you talk to an elected official.  Have it down to the simplest and shortest information possible.  Most decision-makers admit that they are one-page people.  One page of well-put facts will do you more good than all the scientific studies on earth.  Be specific about what you want.  A general plea for more money or equal rights might be ignored.  A specific request for achievable goal is more likely to gain attention and support.

7.       Know your bottom line.  Often you will ask for more than you can possibly get.  This is a good strategy but you need to know what you absolutely must have.  Be ready to compromise.  When you have an agreement, get a commitment.  Confirm your understanding of the agreement with a written note of thanks.

8.       Know when to quit.   Sometimes you just aren’t going to get any more than you have.  If you “over lobby” your points, you may make an enemy that will outlast all your future efforts.  Don’t burn bridges! Even if you are angry, it won’t do you any good to show that anger to a decision-maker.

9.       Know your supporters and your opponents.  You can work with other people or groups who share your concerns.  The work will be twice as easy and twice as effective.  You also need to know who opposes your point of view.  Keep track of the information they are giving so you can prepare to counter it.  Know which decision-makers are on your side—and which ones you will never convince.  Don’t waste a lot of time on the inconvincible.

10.   Follow up.   Lobbying is never a one-time thing.  You need to revisit, call again, go to meetings, and write.  Above all, never take anything for granted.  Some decision-makers will be friends on one issue and then violently oppose you on another.  You can’t assume their support, or their knowledge, of your issues.  A decision-maker that usually opposes you may suddenly decide to support you.  This may happen if your issue appeals to the decision-maker or to his or her constituents.