Ignite

Political Consulting

connection

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Focus on the Person Not the Position

Too often voters feel ignored. They have someone come to their door looking for their vote, yet that person doesn’t feel listened to. They feel like the candidate has someplace else to be or is just going their their lines. Does a candidate really expect a person’s vote if they don’t focus on them?

Candidates are only human. They have a lot on their plates but they need to manage that to be able to focus on the voters who ultimately control their political future. Most people are just looking to put a face to the name, but there are voters who want to discuss an issue important to them. If a voter is particularly passionate about an issue, they usually have a network of like minded people in the community. Listening to their views can often lead to a larger volume of support. People who are issue minded are also more likely to make their voices heard on election day with their vote.

Some tips and advice

  • Don’t look beyond the person in front of you- Listen, take notes, ask questions, show real interest. They may be able to educate you on their focused issue. Get their contact information to follow up.
  • Don’t look at your watch- Once you look at your watch, people know that you are not engaged. If time is that much of a concern, you scheduling is poor. When you are knocking on doors take your time and get to know the voters.
  • The next person may not be the best person- The grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
  • You meet the same people going up as you do going down- My grandfather used to say this. Win or lose, this is your community. Do you want to be know as a glad hander or a stand up person.

A candidate needs to concentrate on people. You are asking people for the privilege of being their voice in government. Focus on them.

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One Size Does Not Fit All

One size does not fit all, one idea does not fix everything.

Simple concepts that are being ignored in today’s political landscape. Politicians are looking for the one issue that will appeal to all voters. They are accepting the premise that only one issue that may not even being focused on the community may dictate election results. People think their elected officials have the answer to everything. No one is infallible.

Each community has different challenges. What may appeal to voters in one district will not in another, many times even across a town. Candidates should speak to issues that impact their community. While it may seem by reading social media and talking to people that everyone is discussing issues beyond a candidate’s control, a candidate who focuses on their district will make the biggest difference.

Additionally, it is easy to get caught up in theoretical conversations that have the ability to alienate people. When running for an office like City Council, a discussion about the federal deficit is not fruitful and can be off putting. Discussing crumbling curbstones in a neighborhood is showing awareness and concern. Voters want someone who is engaged with the area not someone who just sits and reads about large scale issues unrelated to the office they seek.

Be present in your community if you want to run for office. Notice things, speak on local issues. you may need to point out issue to the community but that will show people that you want to advocate for them. Local politics involves local issues, voters will appreciate your concern and connection to the community.

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Finding Empathy

Politics has become a bitter, contentious fight. Social media is a battleground. Neighbors ignore each other because of the candidates they support. People are angry all the time discussing issues.

In local politics, making personal connections is the way to get elected. The problem is when neighbors fail to talk how can you build a coalition for victory. The current climate stands in the way of building any consensus. How can you communicate with people when the yelling is the only thing going on?

There is a great book by a sociologist named Arlie Hochschild called Strangers in Their Own Land. Hochschild is a liberal from Berkeley. She does not hide her political views. Hochschild immersed herself in Louisiana conservative politics for five years. Her belief is that there is an ’empathy wall’ that makes it next to impossible for people to be able to communicate across political lines.

A first step to finding empathy is to ask questions. To come in all hot with statements does not enable you to understand where a person is coming from. The ability to listen to a person’s beliefs and then ask more non judgmental questions will help make a connection. You want to understand what make a person to be so firm in their convictions. Hochschild uses this to understand where people are coming from and she uses that to also calmly point out her views and ideas.

Empathy is an important way to connect with voters. Empathy is missing from today’s political scene and is much needed. Start with listening, then questioning and then you can break down the ’empathy wall’. A great way to start is by reading Arlie Hochschild’s book and here is a link to purchase it.