Tag Archives: grassroots advocacy groups
Trust – The Ultimate Grassroots and PAC Motivator: Part 1
Motivation is the number one topic of concern to most grassroots and PAC leaders. Just the mention of how to solve the “M” dilemma guarantees rapt attention. My observation is that many government affairs professionals are shopping for lightening bolts when it comes to motivational strategies; however, it’s combination of strategies and tactics that motivate within the context of your organization. What motivates at one association or corporation may not garner attention at another.
Nevertheless, trust, both structural and personal, is a critical factor in any attempt to motivate belief in and action for your cause. Steven Covey said that “Trust is the ultimate form of human motivation.” Trust is paramount to motivating paid workers, so one can deduct how critical…
How to Avoid the Tripping Point and Maximize Your Advocate Hill and State House Visits: Part One
Grassroots advocate Hill visits are a necessary activity for groups who are serious about impacting the legislative process. Why don’t these opportunities create raging grassroots thunder advocates? Why don’t the visits result in converted legislators?
To make an impression with our advocates and legislators, we must go beyond the stultifyingly boring “dos and dont’s” of legislative communications and empower our advocates to influence, rather than present, the organization’s position and their personal story to their legislator. However, many groups stubbornly cling to the tired ways of advocate development without respect for the calling, managing expectations, and the science of influence.
Our observations and knowledge of the science of influence reveal how your group can avoid “the tripping point” and leverage your Hill…
The Habits of Effective State Advocacy Groups
The results of the following research have been featured in many of my advocacy workshops, as well as various national and regional publications.
In our initial research review, we saw that the specific word “grassroots” was the second highest response as one of the habits of an effective advocacy group. However, upon further review of the responses, we noted that there were numerous responses such as: “active membership,” “lots of members”, and “regular people” that refer to grassroots.
Therefore, I am republishing the results. This change affects only the order of the number one and number two responses. The remaining effective habits are the same.
While those of us in the government relations profession often debate about the most powerful interest groups and…
