Today we publish the first in a series of five articles by Heather White, the professional relationship expert and networker extraordinaire who founded Smarter Networking (whose website also includes more free networking advice). She has tailored this series for budding candidates - although much of the advice will be relevant to anyone in the political sphere. Today she considers how you should develop and execute a networking strategy; next Wednesday she will give advice about how to make a good impression with the people that matter.
The recent expenses scandal and the proposed departures of many MPs, has left many people considering whether to step into the political ring. For some, this is a completely new area and for others it is something that has been dabbled with over time. Moving further than just a toe in the water is not as simple as turning up at your local association though, it requires some serious planning.
While there are obstacles to overcome such as getting CVs together and Parliamentary Assessment Boards (PABs), there is a much wider plan that needs to be instigated if this is a serious career option.
As the founder of Smarter Networking, a company that helps people improve their networking skills, you would expect me to promote the value of building and maintaining good contacts. However it is not just about getting more friends on Facebook or increasing the entries in your phonebook – quality not quantity is the key here.
Ensuring that you are a successful and effective communicator is absolutely crucial when meeting people and determining how they can help influence your future career. It is not just about what you say or how you project yourself but finding out what you need to know and assessing how you are being viewed.
So in the first of my series in improving your networking skills, I am covering how to approach developing and executing a networking strategy.
Politics is one of the most obvious ‘who you know not what you know’ environments out there. It is important, because of the sheer number of people involved in political life from party members, constituents, donors and the upper echelons of the party itself (especially as you get to the dizzy heights of actually being an MP), that you prioritise when you first start out. Knowing who may help and hinder is as important as knowing what to say or what not to say.
It is all about being methodological and organised – some people may be lucky and meet very influential people early on in their career, for others, it is a process of going out and seeking them. And ensuring that the people you decide are not helpful to you now, are managed effectively to still be included in some way, even if at a distance. If the recent controversies have highlighted anything, it is that things can change very quickly in politics so you should never totally discard anyone you meet as they could be in an influential position before you know it.
Before you start, there are a few questions you should ask yourself:
What do I stand for and what is my brand? In a way, people are like companies or products. People buy into you and help you, or people don’t. Being confident in yourself and what you stand for is a very good attribute but don’t create a façade that you cannot keep up. You will be representing your brand for years to come if successful so be clear it is something you can stick with. A positive mindset and a willingness to engage with others in issues that do or don’t matter to you will impress people. A passive person rarely breaks through into politics – I mean, why would they?
Who is already one of my contacts? Do you know any influential party members or supporters who may help you with introductions to the right people? It’s not always about meeting new people using existing contacts to introduce you to a friend or acquaintance. This is often a very effective way of making new and useful contacts. These people could be anyone from a family member to a supplier at work Opportunities are everywhere if you take the time to find out about people and what they do and who they know.
Who can get me to the place I want to be? Think about all levels of the Conservative Party from supporters to councillors to donors. Do your research, and don’t be afraid to count senior people in your list if you know them or have close links to them – you’ll be surprised at how helpful some people can be when you ask.
Build a proper grid of who you need to reach and where they fit with each other – such as the format of the David Cameron’s West Wing Wallchart produced by Conservative Home. This can clearly show you how people are interlinked and who is the right person to influence at each stage.
Once you have identified a list of people that you think can help your career or influence it, categorise contacts into groups. For instance, you may list the following categories:
- Influencers
- Sponsors or champions
- Connectors or introducers
- Supporters
- Key constituents
- MPs
- Councillors or GLA members
- Party members
So where exactly will you meet these targets? Again, research, research, research. It is vital in knowing where to go and what is going on (effectively being ‘in the loop’). Ask around and be proactive, read about people and keep abreast of issues that may be of relevance – you need something to talk about when you finally meet them. Go to things that don’t necessarily interest you but could introduce you to new and relevant people. Find out where local meetings are taking place. If you have actually decided on a geographical area you want to get involved in, then find out what is happening there and what issues are on the agenda. You may find smaller local campaigns welcoming such as school crossing groups or those against phone masts. Research key individuals and their interests if you can read biographies online to help determine what events people might be at.
Membership of some of the organisations associated with the Conservative Party instantly aligns you with similarly-minded people such as cultural or business groups. Or you could try events more loosely associated with politics such as those held by thinktanks or policy seminars. The list of events in any week is endless as any MP will tell you.
Although it sounds like a lot of work, a methodical approach like this will not only speed up the time it takes to reach your targets, it also ensures you don’t waste a lot of valuable time attending pointless meetings and events which get you no closer to the people you need on board.
In the next of the series, we cover how to make the right impression when you meet people, an absolute must-read ahead of Party Conference in Manchester.
