What is an “Amyism”? I’ve been consulting in the government relations profession since “the turn of the century,” yes, 1999 to be exact. However, I’m still leaning forward in my seat, taking notes from my grassroots advocacy and Political Action Committee (PAC) clients. I get to learn about their pressing issues, but more intriguing to me and my community of government relations professionals  is what I learn from how they successfully (or unsuccessfully) lead and execute their advocacy and PAC responsibilities.

The result is “Amyisms”- a piece of advice or observation intended to help other government relations professionals improve their work performance and results, or at the very least, think about a challenge differently. Here are some of the Amyisms that tend to get the most comments, from “I never thought of it that way,” to “I’m glad you are saying what I can’t say,” and the story behind them.

Amyism #61
Advocacy vs. Persuasion

“Advocacy is not persuasion. One is the activity, the other is the result.  Just like spending a lot of time in your doctor’s office doesn’t make you a neurosurgeon, advocating doesn’t make you persuasive.”

This represents the essence of my practice philosophy, as I strive for clients to focus on their results v. their process. Some in our profession become frosty because they view advocacy as the highest expression of civic engagement. But if the purpose of your engagement isn’t to persuade, why are you doing it?

Amyism #28
Grassroots Volunteer Retention and Motivation

“Pay attention.  Act on what you hear and observe, not from what you believe or hope. Your volunteers will tell you how to keep them engaged if you pay attention.”

I came up with this Amyism because I hear many government relations professionals declare what motivates people to mobilize, to stay engaged in programs, etc., without conducting any primary research with them, or at the least, actively obtaining their feedback, and observing what types of messages, incentives, and environments create more action and loyalty.

Read Part 2 of “Amyisms for Grassroots and PAC Effectiveness” for “Education v. Persuasion,” “Resting the Roots,” and “Grassroots Training Rigor” next week.