For whom the poll tolls
It’s the Monday morning after the election, the political world is buzzing, and you’re already short on time and juggling a lot. There’s no time to research all the new faces that have appeared in the halls of power overnight - are they friend or foe? Ally or enemy? Will they champion your cause or do their darndest to set it back? You know a broad-brush, party-wide approach won’t pay big dividends for your NGO, which is why you need a shortlist with a clear rationale for who you should approach and why.
Even if you’re a political mastermind coming into the election with a carefully considered strategy - knowing where each party stands on your issue and leveraging as much as you can out of it (whether that’s engaging supporters, growing public awareness or securing policy or funding commitments across the aisle) - it’s likely there’ll still be a few surprises when parliament’s newest members surface on the 22nd of May.
In our last blog we argued why it’s important for small NGOs to engage newly elected parliamentarians regardless of their stripes or position in the pecking order - but how do you go about finding out about what makes them tick, and what’s the best way to start talking to them?
This will (of course!) depend on your advocacy goals, which could vary widely from engaging a cross-section of parliamentarians to join a friendship group, to forging deep relationships with those ready to champion your cause.
The first thing to do is get clarity on what it is you’re trying to achieve in the next parliament and beyond - how does this link to your organisational goals and advocacy strategy?
Post-election, you’ll no doubt be reviewing your priorities and opportunities in light of the outcome. Others within the sector will also be taking stock - this is a great time to talk to your friends and colleagues, and collaborate with those who share your interests to understand where you can have the greatest impact.
It’s also important to know where their issues intersect or diverge with yours and what is unique about your organisation or perspective. It could be that you engage with people directly impacted by the issue, or that your organisation focuses on a particular niche. Perhaps you’re well connected to local groups across the country or you have international relationships that strengthen your credibility. Pinpointing what sets you apart from others in the sector not only helps focus your messaging but makes clear what you have to offer and why.
Having some deep knowledge of the people you’re engaging with is also key, and one of the best ways to dig this up is to listen to a politician’s first speech. Even though the time and resources it takes to analyse these can be beyond the reach of many advocates working in small NGOs (we can help!), it’s still incredibly rewarding knowledge, and can give your cause the head start it needs in the early days of the new parliament.
Demonstrating your understanding of (and interest in) a politician’s background not only shows respect, but quickly builds rapport. It’s your job to join the dots between what they care about and what you’re advocating for.
Ideally, you’ll reach out to your chosen targets as early as possible with a (succinct) hook to your issue. Why should they care about it? Is it prevalent in their local electorate and can you localise data or statistics to prove it? Or is it something that a large portion of their community cares about, or something you believe they personally would (or could) care about based on their background (perhaps if they had more knowledge of the issue)?
You should also position your organisation’s expertise: who are you and why should they listen to you? From where do you draw credibility or power? Do you represent the voices of people within their community who care or are directly impacted, are you a thought leader who’s conducted research?
And finally, what do you want them to do about it? It’s important to acknowledge any policy developments or commitments already made, and depending on where you stand, you may also want to offer an alternative point of view. Conclude your first message with short, sharp asks - whether that’s to meet to brief them further or to support a particular policy ask. Typically, this information comes in the form of a letter or succinct policy brief that’s easy to understand. Remember, unless they have a background in it, don’t assume they know anything about your issue.
It’s also vital to remember that the messenger is just as important as the message - so you should consider if the initial outreach is best made by you, a constituent, or perhaps through a less formal introduction from someone within your network?
If it sounds like a lot to do in a short amount of time - it is! But we can help you with all of these things, whether it’s reevaluating your strategy, refining your short list or planning your approach.
Impact Collective love supporting small organisations to achieve big things, and we’d love to help your cause this parliamentary cycle.
Get in touch to talk about how we can work together today, and don’t forget to download our FREE step-by-step guide to maximising your impact in the next parliament by signing up to stay in touch below.
