Ten Strategies for Political Influence

Prof. David Landis

Strategy One: Electioneering

• divides winners and losers

• gains a persuadable audience

• gains access under pressure

Strategy One: Electioneering

• assist in candidate recruitment

• survey/select electoral resources

• make connections personally

Strategy Two: Coalition Building

• more public support

• more personal, constituent ties

• astroturf vs. grassroots

Strategy Two: Coalition Building

• identify all stakeholders

• reach out to possible partners

• divide labor to reflect strengths

• brittle, not flexible, under stress

Strategy Three: Framing

• names the issue for public

• creates positive impression

• puts opponents on defensive

Strategy Three: Framing

• identify popular values

• align issue with values

• stick to the message

Strategy Four: Expertise

• creates credibility

• gives usable rationale

• distinguishes from other good ideas

Strategy Four: Expertise

• easy to follow, graphic, authoritative

• best: proves bang for buck

Strategy Five: Story

• holds much information

• memorable

• affects emotions

Strategy Five: Story

• plot first, then detail

• demonstrate specific human impact

• personalize the message

Strategy Six: Timing

• affects the outcome

• maximum effect for resources

Strategy Six: Timing

• before public position taking

• inoculate against opposing views

• before elections

Strategy Seven: Referent Power

• attach to positive person

• get the benefit of their glow

• proven influence method

Strategy Seven: Referent Power

• best: nonpolitical with personal stake

• generate free media

• don’t pretend to be expert

Strategy Eight: Deference

• high return for resources

• builds internal credibility

• denies effective opponent

Strategy Eight: Deference

• learn inside/outside deference source

• earliest important targets: leaders

• pick best floor/public leader available

Strategy Nine: Solution Finding

• good ideas have power

• good ideas meet multiple interests

• good ideas reflect priorities

• note: sell problems, nominate solutions

Strategy Nine: Solution Finding

• learn interests of stakeholders

• discover priorities

• offer alternatives that advance multiple interests

Strategy Ten: Authority

• times change quickly

• aircraft carrier vs. destroyer

• coalitions become brittle

Strategy Ten: Authority

• preplan for crunch time

• give representative power to deal

• gulp and defend the deal

“Good Luck & Good Grassroots Organizing.”

- Dave Landis