Let’s assume that most of us are not the final arbiters in making big decisions that affect our professional lives– unless you’re Mark Zuckerberg or Jeff Bezos, and I suspect that even they need to take their shareholders into account. We all need others for input and agreement to advance our vision and ideas. This is especially true in the education arena.
An earlier post describes the process of coalition building with like-minded arts education advocates. Let’s look now at the process of cultivating decision makers and influentials who may become your first-line advocates, giving them a reason to engage. It’s both art and science, heart and head.
Art of the Brief. As we learned in Sunday School, it’s always better to give than to receive. As you seek to engage decision makers and influentials in your arts education advocacy effort, first take stock of the gifts you can bring to the table. Yes, I’m talking about your knowledge and expertise. Decision makers typically have scores of issues they are wrestling; they (their staff) cannot be an expert in everything. When ESSA was being negotiated, Music Makes Us staff and advisory members briefed Senator Alexander’s staff on music and arts education in Nashville and followed up with draft language and research. When Nashville elected a new mayor in 2015, we met with all seven mayoral candidates to brief them with research, historical context and progress indicators. When a new superintendent came on board, we briefed the new senior administrative staff about our work.
Briefings serve to: 1) establish your credentials; 2) provide historical context; 3) provide data that illuminates the issues; and 4) tell a compelling story that brings the issue to life. Briefings may include a specific “ask” or not. An excellent outcome is to leave the meeting with a good reason to do a follow-up. It’s all about cultivating the relationship.
A briefing conversation should include these elements:
- Purpose—why are you there?
- Rationale—why is it important?
- Historical context— how does this fit into the bigger picture?
- Story—bring the issue to life with real-world examples.
- Data—what does research say?
- Next steps
Of course, not all conversations with influentials are planned in advance. I’m a believer in the serendipity of elevator conversations. However, even with those unscripted moments, it’s good to be prepared.
Stay loose. I know you know this, but I’ll say it anyway. It’s important to be positive, respectful, and not overly dramatic. (We may believe that all things revolve around our issues, but, sadly, they do not.)
And most important of all– listen actively for cues as to what they care about. Whether you’re talking with school board members, school administrators, influential community members, or elected officials and their staff, you’ll likely find that most people have a story to tell about the importance of the arts in their lives. Which is a great basis for building a relationship. Listen to what they say and look for ways to weave it into your conversation. If they say, “I am very shy about singing, because I don’t think I have a good voice. But I see my son thriving in the school choir and can see what it has brought to his life.” You can say, “This is a perfect example of why it’s so important for all children to experience the arts. Just think what might have happened if you had had the same opportunity to find your voice. It’s never too late.”
Be the Go-To. Another good practice when meeting with decision makers is an authentic offer of assistance. Become a go-to resource for them. If they need more data, offer to help find it. If they want to know where the gaps are in programming, offer to do some digging. If they want to know how your issue can fit inside other education issues they are working on, let them know you can help.
I’ll say it again… It’s never too late to find your voice and start singing.
P.S. If you do not have local data to illustrate your story, here are some great resources for compelling research.
ArtsEdSearch. A curated research hub from Arts Education Partnership.
NAMM Foundation. Research briefs curated and funded by the NAMM Foundation.
