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5 Ways to skillfully sharpen your position when engaging local government.

Updated: Mar 2, 2022

As an issue moves through a discretionary processes in local government, it's critical to clarify the narratives that exist, the outcomes desired and the parties involved.


By establishing or taking a second look at the issues and positions, you can help better understand what each of the parties want. In our 20+ years in the business, we've put together some best practices for sharpening the client’s position and below are our top five. Although some have been borrowed, inspired or otherwise acquired from mentors, we adapt and apply them in many different scenarios for different Dragonfly clients.


What does a win look like?


Before we launch into the stratosphere with a big strategy and tactics, it is necessary to understand what a win looks like. In other words, what does it mean to be successful? What does the client want? A win can change in small intervals, for example securing a vote in committee, then pushing a larger vote to the overall legislative body, but the big win should always be clear and obvious, so everyone involved has the same expectations.


Frame the debate.


If we know what a win is, we should ensure the outcomes are discussed in a manner that gives us a win. Framing means that when we communicate, everything portrays our side in the best light, with the strongest arguments, with the best facts, in a manner that advocates for our position as the best possible solution.


"The fight is won or lost far away from the witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights." – Muhammad Ali

Know what others want.


Also known as, what a win looks like for the “other side” (and by other side, we mean anyone, a local government, an opposing company, another lobbyist). Knowing what others want will help prevent an attack, bolster a defense or find common ground with our position. It is impossible to advance your own interest without understanding what is at stake from the other side.


What does the community want?


All politics is local and community can make or break any issue or campaign. Yes, community can be a neighborhood, but social media creates community beyond geography. Today community means aligned interests. Knowing what the community wants is important because we will be better prepared, have a broader understanding of issues and their depth. Ultimately, we have a stronger position by knowing what others want.



Find common ground.


When we fully understand our position, the opposing position and the community, we can look for common ground. While maintaining an overall vision for what a “win” looks like we can move towards common ground to avoid damaging escalations that may be unnecessary. It is extremely likely there are common points of interest on any issue. Look for them and extend and olive branch while getting a win.


The 5 points above will help create a foundation that will strongly support your efforts in the City, County and State.


In no way is anything above a substitution for personalized analysis and insight. If you want to discuss how Dragonfly can navigate your issue, reach out. Let’s fly.

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