"Leave the Kitchen Sink at Home" Say Hill Staffers

Congressional staff survey being released today shows that a simple message and a clear delivery are the keys to a citizen advocate's success on Capitol Hill. Respondents range from Chief of Staff to Staff Assistant but agree that what you say is more important than the medium you use to say it.

"Leave the Kitchen Sink at Home" Say Hill Staffers
Congressional staff survey suggests need for advocacy training

Washington, D.C.--On Capitol Hill, KISS"ing (or Keeping it Short and Sweet") goes a long way in guaranteeing that a citizen advocates message is heard, according to the results of a new Congressional staff survey being released today from AdVanced Consulting. The survey report can be accessed at www.advocacyguru.com/staffsurvey.htm.

Congressional staff strongly agreed on the following responses:

1.   Citizen advocates should organize their information so it can be presented in five minutes (98%),
2.   Feb. thru April is a busy particularly busy time for constituent contact in DC (94% strongly agree or agree),
3.   Citizen advocates should know something about the district (80%),
4.   Citizen advocates should leave limited, highly relevant and focused information (80%),
5.   One to three people is the ideal number to come to a meeting in the office (78%),
6.   It is better for citizen advocates to come in for a meeting to request something specific versus coming just to chat (76%).

With anthrax scares interrupting mail service, spam blockers intercepting emails and orange alerts raising security in Washington, DC, advocates on Capitol Hill are rethinking their approach. With this in mind, AdVanced Consulting launched the What Makes an Effective Advocate" survey in order to provide these advocates with up-to-date and accurate information about how best to deal with Congressional offices.

A majority of the Congressional staff who responded to the survey urge citizen advocates to keep their messages simple and to the point. However, no one form of communication stands out as the most preferred; each staffer has his/her own preference for fax, emails, phone calls, etc.

Clearly, what you say is more important than how you say it," says, Stephanie Vance, the Advocacy Guru of AdVanced Consulting. Our survey reveals that many Congressional staff appreciate and respond to the 'less is more approach to advocacy."

Respondents, who ranged from Chief of Staff to Staff Assistant, encourage citizen advocates to have an action plan" and be clear about what they want the staff to do. In fact, a significant number of respondents are turned off when advocates come by just to chat.

Moreover, the survey results show real opportunities for advocacy groups to better prepare their members for interactions with elected officials. A large percentage of respondents assert that advocates do not take the basic steps to prepare for a meeting, such as looking up a legislators record, knowing something about the district and organizing their information so it can be presented in five minutes.

There are four or five very specific, very easy things advocates can do to really make a positive impression on Congressional staff. Unfortunately, most advocates do not take advantage of these opportunities," Vance said. What this tells me is that there are tremendous opportunities for associations and other advocacy-oriented groups to better train their members to be more effective."

AdVanced Consulting is a Washington DC-based firm focused on effective advocacy training, writing and consulting. Our mission is to build trust between citizens and their government. AdVanced Consulting is not a survey research firm, nor does the company in any way suggest that this survey, which was conducted February 14, 2003 through April 18, 2003, is reflective of the opinions of all Congressional staff. Rather, the purpose of the survey is to offer valuable insights into the perspectives of those Congressional staff with an interest in these issues. In addition, the survey provides anecdotal evidence for citizen advocates on how to be most effective in dealing with their elected officials.

Stephanie Vance, the Advocacy Guru of AdVanced Consulting, is a 15-year veteran of Washington, DC. She has worked in various capacities in and around Capitol Hill, including as a lobbyist and in Congress as a Legislative Director and Staff Director. At AdVanced Consulting, Ms. Vance offers workshops, seminars, keynotes and general consulting and advice on effective advocacy techniques.