5 Quick Ideas - Community Groups and Coalitions

Building your presence in the community means more than knowing the key players.  It means building a relationship with the organizations that drive your community.  The unique position you have is that you can build these organizations if they don't exist, and when they do, you can be the coalition builder in just a few simple steps:

1) COME WITH IDEAS - There are plenty of things you can work together on as organizations.  Maybe its an update on the current trends in your industry, maybe its a policy discussion.  Being able to bring things to work on together is what will lead to gravitation in your direction.

2) MEET ON COMMON GROUNDS - Where is it important to be seen, and who is it important to be seen with is sometimes even more important than what it is you are doing.  Presence is about building a relationship not just for yourself, but for others.  Being able to make the right introduction to the right person can be more valuable than anything else.  As such making sure you always find opportunities to meet in a public place where other leaders congregate is a great idea.  If you don't know where that is, make one - set one meeting with one person at a location at 3, and an hour later someone else, and introduce them in passing.

3) DON'T PUSH - Coalitions are easy to build, but even easier to destroy.  Knowing when you are at the edge of what the group is comfortable with is an important factor to making sure your organization continues on.  There will be plenty of times where you drive the discussion, and plenty of times where you are dragging others along to a common goal.  But be sure to recognize those warning signs that you are going beyond their comfort zone.

4) SERVICE FIRST - Many of these organizations are predicated on the notion that service to the community is the goal of the organization.  Even business focused organizations.  It may not be your direct interest, it may not even be something you fully understand, but sometimes throwing caution to the wind and diving in to lend a helping hand in something you have no connection to goes much further than anything else, especially knowing that you are trying to drive an issue sometime soon.

5) FOLLOW UP - Anything you come up with, work on, decide, or even just show up for requires follow up in community groups.  Why?  Because no one does any follow up, and sometimes things you've asked for get forgotten.  Plus showing some initiative to follow up positions you as a leader, and someone people can rely on.  Use this to your advantage whenever possible.

Coalitions and community groups are great places to find support for issues, but the relationship must be there first. Build that and you will have more success.

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How Little Politics Influences Big Politics

We've all heard how "top of the ticket" (President, Governor, etc.) influences the "down ticket" (State Legislature, County Government, Etc.) races.  It's easy to understand, uninformed voters look for the party at the top of the ticket, or the person who inspires them running for the larger office, and as a result they vote for people of the same party all the way down.

That's not always the case however anymore.  With so much gridlock at the state and national levels, more and more policy is being enacted at the local level.  And with good reason - There is less resistance there.

Part of the reason there is so much legislative gridlock at the national level is because there is so much research and vetting required to make national policy that by the time an issue is ready to debated, much of it has been watered down.  And that is before the horsetrading of the legislature steps in to muck it up further.

On the local level however that vetting process has a much less rigorous review, and there is much less to trade.

As a result, policies at the local level are passing much more quickly than the state and national level.  Just take a look at the most recent hot-topic issues - the sharing economy:

Uber has found more success and challenges city by city than state by state.
AirBnB is being challenged with local policies differing city by city.

Or look at how established industries are being affected:

Development and construction are finding more success with local negotiations than reforming state regulations
Natural Resources find it easier to get easements locally than working with the natural resources regulators

Or look at how regulation is affecting industries such as supplements

More legislation on the use, sale and distribution of synthetic supplements is occurring at the local and state levels than at the national level because of the backlog of reviews at the FDA.

As such local politicians are being seen as more effective in dealing with complex issues that higher levels of government are neglecting.  As such, they are influencing policy and debates at the higher levels, and this is a trend that will likely lead to lower level government elected officials being able to supplant those governing above them as they get more exposure on these key issues.

5 Quick Ideas - Outreach to the Media

They say that the biggest fear people have is speaking in front of a group.  If that is true, then the biggest fear most organizations have is speaking to the media.  The reason for this is simple - They will never report exactly what you want exactly how you want it to be reported.

You can either accept that reality and work with it, or you can hide from the Media and let them write whatever they want about you.  Obviously that is not the best option.  However here are some options you might consider in getting a favorable position with the press.

1) THEY ARE PEOPLE TOO - Despite what you may have experienced, in general they are just people trying to do a job.  And they are not experts in your field.  They are relying on you to make your message simple to understand to people like them that also don't know your field.  Think of them like the guy you met at the dinner party that you had to explain your business to and had to put it in terms they could understand.

2) REACH OUT BEFORE YOU HAVE TO - Just like any relationship, its best to have that familiarity before you need it.  Take them to coffee, meet them on their terms, and make them comfortable reaching out to you.  The stronger people's comfort level is with you, the more likely you are to gain their trust.

3) GIVE THEM SOMETHING - Provide them information that they may not have access to, make sure that they understand the value of that information, and what they could do with it, and above all, check your facts to make sure they are supportive of your position.  The only thing worse than giving them nothing, is giving them something that is wrong.

Press kits can make the difference

4) WRITE THEIR STORY - Reporters are looking for the story, always.  The more information and detail you can give them when there is a story, the better.  In fact write a sample story for them.  Give them a packet sheet.  Make sure they have all the information necessary, and let your story become theirs.

5) THANK THEM SINCERELY - The only real truth is that all press is good press.  People see the name and that's what they remember.  Even the bad things are opportunities to become good things.  Use that information to your advantage, and always thank them when something is said about you - even if it is negative, thank them for taking a look at the issue.  Offer that you'd like to be a resource to them in the future on these issues, and be sincere... no matter how mad you are at how badly they misrepresented the situation.

They are people, working on an issue, trying to get something accomplished.  Just like you.  They are your best friend - if you handle it right.

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5 Quick Ideas - Outreach to Community Leaders

One of the most overlooked components of an organization's success is its perception and support within the community.  This goes for both the community it represents, and the community where it is located.  This is an important distinction, however the process of being engaged and effective in these communities is the same.

The best way to address this opportunity is to follow these steps -

1) Ask yourself - What opportunities exist in your communities?  What spaces do you need to be in, in order to be effective?  Who do you need to know in the community?  Who will be important in making those connections and opportunities for you?

2) Start With Elected Officials - They are probably the easiest group to identify and contact.  Your city council, local school board (don't overlook them), your state representatives, your members of congress - whomever is elected in your area - they are your first group to outreach to.  More importantly, they can recommend who else you should speak with.

3) Reach Out To Community Organizations - Fraternal organizations, business organizations, the chamber of commerce, local philanthropic organizations and the like typically house the community leaders in some capacity.  Knowing how to engage with them, and where to engage with them, is an important aspect of building that rapport with them.  Also consider church groups as many have greater influence than you've previously considered in the communities.

4) Talk To Your Affiliates - Whether that is a supplier, a business organization, an affiliated industry, or just people you've worked with in the community.  Bring them in to help you figure out where you need to connect.  They can also be helpful in making those connections.

5) Have An Offer - You don't want to start any relationship with an ask.  So instead plan to have something you can offer.  A business offering, a community resource, or just an opportunity to help.  Starting with an offer helps make your approach seem much more communal than self serving.

Reaching out to community leaders is simple, it's just taking the steps to officially do it that will matter.  Make sure your efforts are engaging, interesting and easy to support.

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The Downfall of Debates

In just a few days we are going to have the first of the Democratic Debates for presidential candidates.  We've already had several Republican ones.  Here's where the problem lies -

The purpose of a debate is to identify differences between the candidates, and see which ones align most with your personal beliefs on issues important to you.

Despite the spectacle of some of the Republican debates, they have managed to identify stark differences between the candidates on a wide range of topics.

However they have not gone into detail on them.  So really all we have heard are surface comments on the issues.  Soundbytes designed to get a reaction.  And they have.

The debates themselves however lack the enthusiasm and depth that the country deserves in making this decision.

So what should we look for from the Democratic candidates?

• Where do they see the biggest issues facing the country being? and more importantly do they have thoughts on how to fix them that have some semblance of detail and structure?  Not lip service, not soundbytes, depth.  It is unreasonable to assume they have every detail worked out at this point, but something more than a talking point is imperative.
• What about their plan is better than the Republican positions?  Like it or not the next president will almost assuredly be from one of the two parties.  And despite what some observers like to say - there is a major difference between the parties and the candidates.  However what makes one more appealing or likely to work than the others?
• How will they work their ideas through congress?  A great resource to follow is the Five Thirty Eight Blog to see how things are shaping up.  (Also Real Clear Politics, Politico, and the Hill - all strong insights into congress)  If a Democrat wins, they are likely to have to work with a Republican controlled congress (Senate is less sure than the house, but still a strong party line).  That means any idea they talk about they need to convince the other party to go along with.  Right wrong or indifferent - Clinton, Bush and Obama all faced challenges there.  How will these candidates overcome that?

Any candidate that cant answer these key points... isn't worth supporting.  Regardless of party

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