Effective Meetings with Elected/Agency Officials

You might not be surprised to learn that we believe there really is an 'art' to political affairs.  For government relations consultants like us, the ability to craft an effective meeting between our clients and an elected official is a non-negotiable skill. We offer a really effective (and short) training course for you, your staff, and/or Board of Directors, on how to have meetings with elected/agency officials that yield tangible results, but here's a 'top ten' list for you in the mean time:

1. Elected and agency officials work for you only if you put them to work. So, put them to work by asking for something specific, compelling, and actionable.

2. A handshake still rules. Despite the rise of social media and e-mail, no electronic form of communication comes close to the power of a face-to-face meeting with an elected or agency official. You should be meeting with your Member of Congress and Senators (or their staff) AT LEAST once a year, and probably more.

3. Take the long view. Government affairs is a repeat business based on existing relationships. New programs, funding, and business opportunities are created all the time. Your goal is to be ‘top of mind’ when this happens.

4. Introduce yourself. Begin your meeting at the 30,000 foot level.  Review your organization’s history and provide an overview of your current projects or proposals, your programmatic focus, size, and your existing relationships. Be prepared to tell them your annual budget and where your funding comes from.

5. It’s not the more the merrier! Craft your meetings with elected officials around one or two specific, attainable, and compelling goals. Don’t make a shopping list.

6.Your credit-worthiness is being judged. Elected officials, like your loan officer, judge your credit (also known as political capital). The key to building political capital is to show off your company’s specific accomplishments; provide proof that what you’re saying is true, and highlight your community connections.

7. Be honest. Be prepared to answer any and all questions about your topic, or bring someone with you who can. If you don’t know the answer to a question asked by an elected or agency official, say you don’t know, and offer to follow up with staff.

8. Be considerate. Answer questions simply and clearly; do not go on ad nauseum. Treat staff with respect and courtesy. Show up five minutes early, but expect the elected official to be late.

9. Don’t be shy. Did the elected or agency official use an acronym you don’t know? Ask. Do you have questions about how a particular program works? Ask. He or she will be more than happy to answer.

10. It’s just like Mom said: a timely, genuine, and specific thank-you letter should follow any meeting with an elected or agency official. Address the letter to the official, but send it, electronically and in hard copy, to the staff who attended the meeting.