Twelve Simple Rules of Successful Lobbying

Being a good lobbyist is a skill which most people can develop, given a willingness to work hard and follow a few simple rules. The following list of a dozen simple rules is offered as food for thought for those interested in becoming lobbyists or for faculty organizations planning to develop a lobbying capability.

1. Begin Now, But Plan for the Long Term

Politics is an area where you must "pay dues" before being listened to by politicians, including governors, legislators, regents, trustees, and others. Faculty members can easily be perceived as out-of-touch intellectuals who have never had to solve a real-world problem. Proving your worth to individuals in the political arena takes effort, time and persistance. But if you spend the time, and adhere to a few other simple rules (to follow), great things can be accomplished.

2. Always Be Credible

Never mislead politicians, members of their staff, or media representatives. One mistake can lead to a loss of credibility which took years to develop. You can only lose your credibility once, and when it is gone, it is gone for good! Always be reliable and truthful when dealing with politicians, those on their staff, or media representatives. Anything less will come back to haunt you.

3. Get to Know Those Whom You Lobby on a Personal Level

Having personal ties eases communication greatly. Have contact outside of committee hearings and legislative halls. Let the politicians know you as a "real person," and return the favor by getting to know them as real people, not just as politicians. This goes for staff members of politicians, and members of the media corps, as well.

4. Do Your Homework

Plan to know as much or more about the issues being discussed than those who are being lobbied. Let them and others (such as media representatives) know that you are willing to work hard to learn about important issues. Teach them that they can depend on you for sound information, and let them know about sources of information which they may not know. Your opinions will be trusted more if politicians and others think you know what you are talking about and that you rely on solid sources for your positions.

5. Keep Your Members and Supporters Informed

Keep your members and supporters informed through direct communication, or through interviews in the news media. Make your members and other supporters feel that they are a part of the lobbying process, and seek their opinions. Pull them directly into the process where possible, through visits to the political body, or through letter and phone campaigns. This lets the politicians know that you represent a true constituency to which they must pay attention.

6. Give Credit Where Credit Is Due

When politicians do things noteworthy, give them credit, even if the idea was your own. After all, the political process is one of persuasion directed toward those in positions of power. The proper exercise of power requires listening to constituents, and when politicians listen to the views of your group expressed through you., they should gain praise and thanks. Send letters, make calls, and publicize them in your newsletters.

7. Rarely Attack Politicians

Offer "the carrot," and reward those who do good, but use "the stick" very rarely. Remember that you will not win all battles, and that those who decide against you on an issue will be around for another day when they might be more willing to accept your advice. Few politicians will spend time with lobbyists who have publicly attacked or embarrassed them in the past.

8. Coordinate with Other Higher Education Lobbyists

Seek to establish ties with any other lobbyists for higher education, if possible. This could include some lobbyists not directly involved in higher education, but just personally interested in its improvement. Developing a unified front of pro-higher-education lobbying efforts will strengthen your case, while being at odds with other higher education groups or represenatives will probably doom your efforts to failure. Seek to become accepted by other related lobby efforts, and attempt to influence how they approach the political body. Sometimes a crazy scheme presented by others can do your efforts great harm.

9. Be Willing to Compromise and Learn to Trade

Be creative, and offer unique solutions to problems being considered by the political body you are lobbying. Few legislative efforts result in a total victory for one side or the other. Instead there is usually some give and take among the various interest groups engaged in a negotiating process. Politics is the "art of the possible," and sometimes not everything is possible. Learn how to nogotiate at least small victories, and thereby be better prepared to gain a big one!

10. Never Ignore Staff

Staff members have enormous influence over policy in most states' executive and legislative branches, just as in Congress. Learn who the key staff members are and cultivate them. You can make some great friends just by assuming that such people are human, and that you share much in common with them. You should treat staffers with respect, and share information you have with them. They will often return the favor, although their first allegiance is to their boss, of course.

11. Form Coalitions with Other Interest Groups

Natural (and sometimes unnatural) alliances may develop between your group and others on specific issues. Obvious coalitions on specific issues may be with K-12 teacher organizations or with business groups interested in economic diversification, but the list of possible higher education supporters is long. Many individuals and groups have an interest in some aspect of higher education, but perhaps it needs to be nurtured. This includes other lobbyists, some of whom may be very influential in circles you cannot easily enter.

12. Get Involved in Politics

This relates considerably to number one, above. Many faculty avoid involvement in politics, but this may be very short-sighted, especially for faculty who work at publicly-funded institutions. Faculty have a great deal at stake within the political process, and they should be involved and attempt to influence decisions which impact their professional lives and their institutions. It helps, of course, if a lobbyist enjoys the work, but thinking you might not like lobbying is no excuse. Once you start, and get to know officeholders as real people, the task becomes much more enjoyable. Lobbyist get to work with some of the finest, most self- sacrificing folks around, and they sometimes can help accomplish good things through their lobbying. These two reasons should be enough to encourage more faculty to get involved in lobbying.

[Reprinted from March-April 1992 AAUP Chapter/Conference Newsletter]