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Advocacy Tips No matter what the organization or cause, successful advocacy involves several important characteristics.  Please keep these in mind as you speak up and speak out on behalf of our cause: the importance and value of Maine’s public universities. Tips for Being a Productive Advocate: Always be civil and courteous in what you say and do.  Advocacy involves communication, education, and occasionally persuasion.  We are all more effective with all three elements when we speak, write, and act in a respectful manner. Sarcasm, demands, and threats are counter-productive advocacy tactics. Be focused in what you say and write.  Whether you are speaking with a policy-maker, sending a letter to the editor, or sharing your opinions in a group setting, it’s important to focus on the points you are trying to make. Rather than trying to cover every possible argument, pick no more than three key points to stress and elaborate on each of those. Remember that advocacy is not a one-time activity. Successful advocacy involves building and cultivating relationships with those individuals and organizations that you want to inform and persuade.  There will be instances where your efforts to persuade someone will succeed, and times when you might fail.  Always remember the old adage that today’s opponent might be tomorrow’s ally, and vice versa. Don’t take your relationships for granted, and certainly never burn bridges with anyone who may disagree with you. When dealing with policy-makers, understand that they work in an arena that involves many factors and influences.  When communicating with them, be clear about what you want them to know and do.  Provide them with a short (ideally, no more than one page) summary of your position and why you believe it’s in the public’s best interest.  Ask them what their position is on your issue.. If the policy-maker states that he or she supports your position, say thank you and ask them if they would be willing to advocate with colleagues on behalf of the issue or cause.  If the policy-maker is undecided, offer to provide additional information. If the policy-maker is against your position, thank him or her for the consideration and move on.