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TRANSCRIPT
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How to Make Friends and Influence People:
Your Roadmap to Becoming an Advocacy Superstar
Michael Petruzzelli, MPANational Council for Behavioral Health
Who is the National Council for Behavioral Health?
2,900 organizations serving 10 million + adults, children and families affected by mental illnesses and/or addictions ...mental health and addictions organizations, health centers, and hospital systems...
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Thank you to our Hill Day Partners!
Thomas Jefferson said…
“We do not have a democracy of the majority. We have a democracy of the majority who participate.”
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Congressional Popularity
vs.LESS
popular
MORE popular than Congress
*(Yes, it can be done)
Influencing Congress*
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Influencing Legislators’ Decisions
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How influential are…?(Numbers represent % of staff responding “very influential.”)
In the past year, have you…?
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“It’s obvious that supporting mental health and addiction care is a good idea – all I have to do is tell
people about it, right?”
Good ideas don’t speak for themselves
• Different audiences have different agendas• Economic impact• Managing their own
organization’s budget• Promoting a different aspect
of health• Promoting an agenda
unrelated to health• And more…
“It’s not what you say, it’s what people
hear.”
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Raising honeybees in your backyard …
q Will help save a species that is being decimated by colony collapse.
q Promotes plant pollination and beautiful gardens in your neighborhood.
q Is an excellent source of delicious, homegrown, organic honey.
Which case is most persuasive to you?
Good ideas don’t speak for themselves
• Different audiences have different agendas• Economic impact• Managing their own
organization’s budget• Promoting a different aspect
of health• Promoting an agenda
unrelated to health• And more…
“It’s not what you say, it’s what people
hear.”
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Politicians make decisions based on:
High-influence communication: Know your audience• What do they care about?
üFree market economics? üUniversal coverage?üFiscal sustainability?üSomething that isn’t health care?
• What are their goals? üSatisfy their base? üAvoid a 2020 primary? üAdhere to a particular ideology?
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Know your audience (cont.)
• What are their pre-existing biases?üFeelings about Medicaid & Medicaid
enrollees? üPerceptions of mental illness or addiction? üPast experience (good or bad) with tax
levels or social service programs in their district?
• What constraints might they have?üPressure from party leaders? Vulnerable in
2020?
High-influence communication: Tell a story
• What constituencies resonate with them?– Business owners? Tax payers?
Law enforcement? Families? Vulnerable individuals?
• What impact is this issue having on the community?
• Speak from the heart!
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“We have an enormous opportunity to educate lawmakers about mental health and addiction treatment.”
--Patrick Kennedy, NatCon16
High-influence communication: Be a resource
High-influence communication: Be specific with your ask
Don’t be afraid to be direct
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What Advocacy Looks Like
What Advocacy Looks Like