“Your only professional obligation is to notify your boss of your intentions. Practically, this will provide an opportunity to hear another point of view which may or may not persuade your opinion. Clearly an elected officials, in most cases, will be able to provide insight which you may not be privy to. On a personal front, being upfront about this will not or should not effect any future relationship you may want to maintain with your current employer. Gathering the respect of seasoned pros will only help build trust as your career grows and develops.”

“As a legislative staffer, I always found honesty to be the best policy. No one will ever agree with everything their boss does 100% and that is ok and should be expected. However, a staffer should discuss their desire/decision to support any candidate with their current boss and should make sure their involvement in any campaign does not compromise their current legislative position or the work/goals of their current boss.”

Tiffany Raspberry, Founder & President
YorkGroup Associates

“Typically staffers don’t have “their own politics”. That doesn’t mean that they can’t or don’t have their own preferences, ideas and relationships separate and apart from their employer. But it’s generally understood that their boss’ politics is their politics. Their was an instance where my boss picked a candidate in a State Committee race who I didn’t care for and preferred her opponent. I ended up sitting on my hands and doing nothing. It was never an option to work against her candidate (not while I still worked for her). In this case, since your boss is leaving office, I’d sit down and have an honest conversation with your boss as to where you are in the race to succeed them. Hopefully an accommodation can be reached.”

Luther Smith, Vice President, Corporate and Government Affairs
Bill Lynch & Associates

Have a question or a dilemma and need some advice? Send an email to Staff-Fix@ljwstrategies.com or use our submission form by clicking here

Sometimes the job is easy. Most times you are balancing calls from constituents reporting potholes or expressing concern over recently announced school closings; planning a senior health fair; and taking repeated meeting requests from that constituent who refuses to meet with staff, reiterates “I am a donor” and is only available when your boss is in legislative session. Additionally, managing internal communications, the caseworker who is always an hour late and your boss who consistently agrees publicly to speak at events without having any idea of his availability is equally challenging.

You are committed to the work, but now and then we could all use advice from those with experience on how to manage these challenges. The veteran staffers of Staff Fix are here to help.

Submit a question via email at Staff-Fix@ljwstrategies.com or anonymously using the form below and you will get advice from 2 to 3 veteran staffers on how best to handle your dilemma.

A. First, let’s hear what our veteran staffers have to say.

Whether or not there is a speaking role should not be the determining factor as to whether your principle attends a community event. If your principle is available to attend, especially if they have already committed to attend, they should make every effort to show support to the community and the organization. There will most likely be time to network and speak with constituents before the program begins, and you can take that time to communicate with the attendees in a more intimate way. In my opinion, these interactions are more valuable than speaking from a stage or podium.

Patrick B. Jenkins | President, Patrick B. Jenkins & Associates
(former District Director for Congressman Gregory W. Meeks)

Depending on the organization and how many constituents may be in attendance I would still have the member attend. Even though there is no speaking role for the member, there is always an opportunity to meet and greet with constituents. If there is a small number of people expected, I would call the organization and let them know that a staffer will be representing the member.

 

Tyquana Henderson-Parsons | Founder, Connective Strategies, LLC
(former Deputy Chief of Staff to former Council Member Bill deBlasio and Clergy Liaison to former NYC Speaker Peter F. Vallone)

First, evaluate the purpose of the Council Member attending the event. Is it her first time with this community group? If so, just stopping by and greeting people individually may be appropriate as well effective. Save the speaking role for the next time she visits this group. However, if she already has a relationship with this group, or if you hear that other elected’s will be speaking, don’t give up on a speaking role! You’ll score points with the scheduler and the Council Member by going back to your contact and politely asking that the Council Member have just a few minutes to greet the crowd. Sometimes, all you have to do is ask (and ask, and ask again).

Ellyn Canfield | Senior Associate at HudsonTG
(former staffer in the Office of the NYC Public Advocate)

As noted by our veteran staffers don’t be so quick to cancel just because your contact told you there is no speaking role for your member. Remember to consider your member’s reputation particularly if you already committed her to attend. You don’t want to give the impression to the organization that your member will only come if there is something in it for her.

As Tyquana pointed out, there are a number of ways the Council Member can make her presence known at an event without speaking. If it’s a seated event, take her to every table and let her talk to people individually or have another community leader who is well known take her around and introduce her to key people in the room. That can often be more effective and make more of a lasting impression than 3-4 minutes of prepared remarks. If it is a community forum you can arrive ahead of time (as you always should) and distribute materials related to the topic and have your member either greet people as they arrive or towards the end of the event.

Finally, as Ellyn said, don’t give up because one person told you no, once. Ask if your member will at least be acknowledged and then continue to politely ask your contact again and offer a time constraint (“Is there a time in the program the Council Member can just say a quick 2 minute hello?) If you ask your colleagues they may have a relationship with someone to make the request or even the Council Member herself. Also, once your member is in the room oftentimes people loosen up and the M.C. or another official in the room may call her up anyway.

Have a question or a dilemma and need some advice? Send an email to Staff-Fix@ljwstrategies.com or use our submission form here.

In this workshop you will learn:

• How to own and articulate your expertise
• The critical elements of a memorable presentation or interview
• How to build and customize a clear and lasting message
• Techniques to alleviate nerves and manage difficult questions
• The current media environment and how reporters operate

About Our Trainer:

Marjorie Clifton is principal of Clifton Consulting LLC and founder of SpiketheWaterCooler.com and has over 16 years of marketing, communications and public affairs experience.  Since 2003, she has been a consultant for corporations, non-profits, political campaigns and foundations advising them on their strategic communications, branding and women’s leadership strategies.

Marjorie is also a published author, speaker, and media commentator.  She regularly appears on CNN, Fox, global television networks and national radio.  Her passion is expanding women’s leadership and political participation.  As part of this work, she builds and leads global training programs in media, communications, leadership, advocacy and organizing.  Her projects have spanned five continents and nearly all fifty states.

Marjorie has worked with a range of clients including C-level executives of Fortune 100 companies, Members of Congress, presidential campaigns, political pundits, faith leaders and advocates.  Her clients have included the U.S. Department of State, the Federal Reserve, the U.S. Department of Energy, Coca Cola, Booz Allen Hamilton, Verizon, the American Red Cross, Boeing, General Motors, Pfizer, Ebay, the American Medical Association and the Nature Conservancy.

Marjorie received her bachelor’s degree in Communications and Spanish from the University of Texas, where she is currently a fellow for the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Participation.  She has her master’s in acting and corporate theater from Drama Studio London.  Marjorie currently lives in Washington, DC.