Principles of Advocacy: Survival Skills for Advocates
Learn effective guidelines for getting support for your cause and tested personal strategies for continuing your advocacy work despite obstacles you might face.
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WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY SURVIVAL SKILLS?
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WHY DO YOU NEED TO USE SURVIVAL SKILLS FOR ADVOCACY?
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HOW DO YOU USE SURVIVAL SKILLS IN ADVOCACY EFFORTS?
In this section we discuss survival skills for the successful advocate.This list has been compiled from the experiences of many advocates, but it's by no means complete. Not all of these skills may be relevant to your particular situation. However, we feel a review of them may help provide a solid basis for your advocacy campaign.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY SURVIVAL SKILLS FOR ADVOCACY?
Advocacy survival skills are a set of general guidelines for pleading your cause--and for staying in the game long enough to be successful. They have been used effectively by other advocacy campaigns. You and your group may want to review and adapt them as you develop your strategy and tactics for community change.
WHY DO YOU NEED TO USE SURVIVAL SKILLS FOR ADVOCACY?
Success depends on much more than just dedicated people working for a common cause (although that's one necessary ingredient!). This Tool Box section talks about the "Golden Rules" for advocacy - that is, how to be effective in promoting your cause while keeping your head about you.
HOW DO YOU USE SURVIVAL SKILLS IN ADVOCACY EFFORTS?
None of the survival guidelines are set in stone. They should be used to fit your situation and resources. They have benefited many previous advocacy groups, but are not necessarily a recipe for instant success. The important thing is to study these guidelines and use what you find useful; then get to work!
ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE!
Keep your eyes open for positive events that happen in and around your community initiative or because of your group's work.
- When you notice something great happening, even if it's something small, recognize it publicly
- Thank others for their efforts. Pay them public compliments. This will help motivate people to contribute in the future, knowing that you appreciate their contributions!
- Being conscientious about thanking people will help set you apart from other groups that only complain
EMPHASIZE YOUR ORGANIZATION'S VALUES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO THE COMMUNITY
Always highlight the positive values and vision relating to your organization's work. For example, you may ultimately be working towards improved community health, safe workplaces and streets, a clean community environment, or quality education. Everybody wants to experience these things, so it's difficult for opponents or skeptics to argue against the kind of values you promote.
- Keeping public attention focused on values and principles that benefit everyone helps move your initiative along and prevents petty or wasteful arguments from sidelining your efforts
- Communicate to others your group's accomplishments: the new programs, policies, and practices it helped bring about
PLAN FOR SMALL WINS
If members of your group aren't able to see any progress after dedicating a lot of time and effort to your mission, their interest and motivation won't last very long. People like to see results, no matter how small. Sometimes, significant progress on a particular community issue is slow to show itself. To break up the time that passes without major breakthroughs occurring, develop a plan of action that has some shorter term or intermediate goals.
For a long term goal of providing all necessary immunizations to 100% of children age 2 and younger; developing an outreach program for high risk mothers and children 12 months from now might be a good intermediate goal.
When each of the shorter term or intermediate goals is met, celebrate! Celebrations along the way to "the big win" will build the confidence and reputation of your group.
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