THE DO'S & DON'TS IN
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
t's easy to find reasons not to get in-
not have the same impact as a per-
volved: "I don't have time to make a
sonal letter that includes examples and
Iphonecall.""Noonewilllistentome." personalexperiences.
"They don't care what I have to say." "I
don't have any experience." "What if
they ask me a question I can't answer?"
Do get a commitment. At the close of a
The rationale is endless. Deep down,
personal visit or meeting, you should
many people may simply be afraid of
attempt to secure a commitment from
embarrassing themselves. The following
the official that he/she will support your
list of do's and don'ts provides useful tips
position. For example, you might say in
to help ensure your government relations
closing, "So we can count on your sup-
experiences are positive and successful.
port on Wednesday?" or "We hope you
will recognize this amendment is impor-
tant for the quality care of our patients,
DO'S
and we hope you will agree to cospon-
sor it." Even verbal commitments are
Do remember that you have knowledge
tough to break.
of myeloma that ordinary citizens do
not, and that makes you a trusted and
Do realize that talking to the staff is
respected source. Legislators and their
like talking to the elected official. Treat
staff seek specialized knowledge that
staff the same way you would treat the
they don't have. Trust that they wil listen
elected official. Officials often rely on
to you and respect you because you are
staff to advise them on how to vote or
an expert.
craft legislation, and they also develop
interpersonal relationships with trusted
staffers. If you alienate the staff, you are
Do consult your IMF Advocacy Toolkit
asking for trouble.
for specific tips on letter writing, per-
sonal visits, e-mail, and phone calls.
Detailed information is available for your
Do be early for meetings. An elected
reference, so use your resources.
official's schedule can be filled down to
the minute. They don't have time to
Do try to personalize the issue by giving
wait for you, even though you may
examples of how you, your family and
have to wait for them.
community are affected by myeloma.
You would be amazed at how much
Do avoid jargon. Although you are an
more weight is given to a constituent's
expert, try to frame your comments as
concerns than to those of a lobbyist; but
small bullet points of information that
the message must be meaningful. Legis-
can be easily understood by a lay per-
lators and their staff know that organiza-
son. While your knowledge may be im-
tions try to mobilize their members to
pressive, if you lose your audience your
send e-mails or letters on certain issues. If
message will be lost.
the letter reads like a form letter, it will
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Do leave something behind. At the min-
Do recognize the value of compromise.
imum, leave your business card or con-
You may not get everything you want.
tact information so the staff or elected
However, isn't it better, for instance, to
official can contact you with questions.
get some money for cancer research
Optimally, you should provide a useful
than a full amount specifically for mye-
"leave-behind" that summarizes your po-
loma? Think about areas in which you
sition on an issue in digestible tidbits. Sta-
are prepared to compromise and iden-
tistics and their reference are always a
tify those that are not negotiable. In
plus, as staff will often use information
some cases, you may even want to an-
from "leave-behinds" in speeches or as
ticipate compromise by asking for more
talking points on the issue.
than you actually want. But be careful
and don't concede anything until the
Do be realistic.
timing is right.
Thousands of bills are in-
troduced during each legislative session,
but fewer than 10% are enacted. Don't
Do keep your phone call or visit brief
be discouraged if your bill does not pass.
and to the point. While staff or the
You have established relationships, edu-
elected official will usually be polite, it is
cated staff and elected officials, and
incumbent on you to recognize that
built support for your position. If you have
they are very busy. Keep your meeting
accomplished these things, you have
pleasant and brief, and start looking for
laid the groundwork and increased your
clues that it's time to wrap things up af-
chances that a bill will pass the next
ter fifteen minutes. Meetings should
time.
rarely last more than twenty minutes,
but take your cue from the person with
Do come prepared to defend your posi-
whom you are meeting.
tion. You always have to know what
your opposition is up to. If you anticipate
questions and are prepared in advance
Do make friends before you need
to defend your position, you wil cut your
them. Whenever possible, develop rela-
opposition off.
tionships before you have to ask for
something. Try to become familiar with
Do dress appropriately in business at-
legislators who work on issues of interest
to you, even if nothing is developing on
tire. Remember the purpose of your visit
that topic or in his/her committee at
is to talk about professional issues. To be
the time. One obvious place to start is
most effective, you should appear orga-
by getting to know the members of the
nized and professional.
health care committees at your feder-
al, state, or local levels.
Do be loyal to your friends. Like-minded
individuals who work on issues similar to
Do disagree respectfully. If a legislator
yours can be powerful advocates in
has an opposing position on an issue
public policy. They might call you with
and you are unable to change his/her
inside information or invite you to partici-
mind, remain respectful of the time
pate in an outreach activity. If you un-
he/she gave you to state your position.
dermine your friends, they wil not be
If possible, compliment the legislator on
around the next time you need help.
his/her work on another issue. The legis-
lator
will appreciate
your
under-
standing and be impressed by your
knowledge of his/her record.
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Do say thank you. Whether you are fol-
Don't be afraid to say, "I don't know."
lowing up after a personal visit or thank-
Legislators aren't expected to be ex-
ing a member for fighting in committee
perts on everything, and neither are
for one small provision that was impor-
you. Admitting you don't know the an-
tant to you, it is always nice to recognize
swer to something can be a good thing
another's efforts. Legislators and their
because it gives you the opportunity to
staff work hard, and most have great in-
say, "I don't know, but I can research
tentions, so your sincere thanks are al-
that and get back to you." Then, when
ways appreciated.
you have an answer, you have another
opportunity to make contact with the
Do provide helpful information whenever
staff or elected official.
possible. Providing information is always
appreciated. If you send a copy of a
Don't name-drop unless it is directly
current report or an article you think the
relevant. It is okay to mention in pass-
staff or elected official would find inter-
ing, for example, that you worked with
esting, you present yourself as a conside-
someone from Senator John Doe's of-
rate, alert person who wants to help.
fice on a related issue last year or that
When you provide useful information
you testified before a committee on
and are not asking for any specific ac-
the issue. But it is probably not appro-
tion in return, in effect, you are reminding
priate to mention that you played ten-
the recipient of who you are and are
nis with Senator Doe last Thursday.
providing them with a nonthreatening
communication that will be appre-
Don't make threats. Any threats, veiled
ciated.
or overt, are usually recognized for
what they are. Nothing is more offen-
sive and inappropriate then threaten-
Do ask IMF for help. We are committed
ing someone to get them to do what
to helping you. If you need help, contact
you want, and it will backfire one hun-
the members of IMF's advocacy team.
dred times out of one hundred.
Don't become cynical. Keep the faith!
Remember that most people who serve
DON'TS
in public office do so because they
want to make a difference. Try to give
Don't participate in political activities in
them the benefit of the doubt.
the name of the IMF unless you are ad-
vocating an issue on which the IMF has
Don't disparage other elected officials.
taken a position.
This will make your contacts wonder if
you're saying the same thing about
Don't pretend to know something that
them to a staff member from a different
you don't. If you make up information or
office. It will always make you look bad.
skirt around an issue, you'll come off as
disingenuous and lose your credibility.
Don't promise something you can't de-
Most people can spot a phony.
liver. You must be as good as your
word or you will lose your credibility.
8/3/09
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