How to run a successful political campaign

If you want to run a political campaign, there are several ways to assure success. Whether you are running for a local school board position, or for the presidency of the United States, there are certain strategies that will help, regardless of the context of the race.

Before you do anything else, it is important to first know the issues involved in the office you seek. By identifying the specific needs of the community or state you wish to serve, you will put yourself in position to do the maximum for your potential political constituency. Depending on how involved you are with issues of public policy, this gathering process can vary; the “political junkie” who reads the newspaper every day will need much less time than the neophyte to collect policy background. One thing is sure, though: you must have thorough knowledge of all “hot-button” – or important – issues with respect to the office you seek.

Once you know the circumstances of the constituency you wish to lead, you will want to line up funding. Where funding for the average local campaign (including school boards, small city councils, local tax collector) likely require very little funding, for many campaigns such as county commissioners seats, state representation, and big city mayor positions, money will be key to your success. You can always contact local businessmen, investors and party committee members; people who are likely to hold the same views as you often find it a good investment to back like-minded political candidates. Of course, it is important to note that rules and laws apply to campaign fundraising. You’ll want to contact the Internal Revenue Service, as well as the Federal Election Commission and your home state’s voting commission before attempting to raise money for your campaign.

Door-to-door campaigning is a great way to meet people, and to introduce your candidacy. Demonstrating your willingness to hear voters out, going door-to-door is a very effective and proven method of ensuring success on election day. A staple of local and state elections in particular, door-to-door campaigning is most effective when utilized by small groups. It’s a lot of fun as a social event as well.

Seeking endorsements is another way of bringing your political capital to bear. Of course, party-affiliated groups like Young Democrats and Young Conservatives will be willing to endorse your candidacy, if they see fit to do so. But just as effective, if not more so, are the endorsements of current elected officials, plus your local chamber of commerce. Gaining these public nods will put your campaign on track, and show the voters that important, politically involved people trust your motives.

Finally, contacting the writers of voter’s guides is a key element in the campaign process. Organizations like the non-partisan (not party-affiliated) League of Women’s Voters publish voter’s guides online and in local newspapers. A free source of voter information, voter’s guides do not take sides, but rather give background information on candidates, as well as a forum for answering of important policy questions. The authors of voter’s guides greatly appreciate the candidate who makes him or herself available for candid questioning.

All of these strategies can help ensure a successful political campaign. By utilizing all of the means at your disposal, you can give yourself the best chance at competing in the tough – but ultimately rewarding – world of politics.

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How to get the most from an all-day seminar

If your organization is planning to send you to an all-day training seminar, start planning now to maximize benefits.

If you think that attending a seminar requires no special effort on your part, think again. Spending a day away from your usual duties means you may get behind. And who couldn't find a day's worth of fun if you could use those hours for personal activities?

Since you must be away from your job and someone in your company is paying for you to be there, why not take advantage of this opportunity to learn all you can about the topic? Who knows, you might come away with a changed perspective or even some new skills that will make your job easier or more meaningful. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your seminar:

1. Get rested the night before. Don't skimp on sleep with a view to dozing during the session. Check in full of energy and feeling alert. That way you won't miss anything important and you even be able to contribute to the experience for others if volunteers are needed or if participants are asked to share their views or experiences in small group sessions.

2. Eat a healthy breakfast. Fruit and cereal make an ideal combination. Skip fat-laden foods and don't overdo the caffeine. Besides, you will probably be served snacks during the seminar. Choose a healthy lunch if possible; eat lightly otherwise. You don't want to nod off in the afternoon portion of the program.

3. Bring a notebook and a couple of pens unless these will be supplied. Read up on the topic if you have been advised to do so or if you know in advance what it will be. Prepare a list of questions for the speaker if time permits. Make the most of your opportunity to meet with an expert.

4. Dress comfortably. Wear clothes that can be layered so you can remove or add items in response to the room's temperature. Ask for the dress code in advance so you will fit in with other participants.

5. Take notes on the key points of the seminar. Don't attempt to copy every word the speaker shares. And don't include information that may appear on handouts. Record anecdotes, exercises, or insights you may have in response to the presentation.

6. Don't hesitate to ask questions or seek clarity. If you are unable to raise your hand during the speaker's presentation, wait for a break or the luncheon. Some presenters offer a specified question and answer period for this purpose.

7. Don't distract or be distracted. Whispering, joking, getting up and leaving the room, or speaking out during the session is rude. Save your comments for small group sessions or whole group discussions.

8. Ask about follow up. If the presenter does not distribute a list of recommended resources, ask if he or she will email one. Also plan to do additional research of your own as you seek further understanding of the topic while the presentation is still fresh in your mind. File notes in a handy place where you can reference them as needed.

Hopefully you will come away from the seminar with a renewed vigor toward the topic and your job. Perhaps you can email the presenter with a note of thanks. If your appetite for the topic was sufficiently whetted, you may even want to look for another session in the near future. Attending a seminar need not be an exercise in futility. Make it a meaningful opportunity as you invest time and energy to maximize results.

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How to handle a pushy coworker

Many job sites include a hierarchy of positions that hint at a pecking order. Whatever your role in the workplace, it is important to protect yourself from aggressive colleagues who can interfere with your job performance.

If someone in your workplace has it in for you, evidenced in pushiness, aggression, and conflict, you may need to take steps to protect yourself and your job. It may be the person wants to belittle you due to his or her own feelings of insignificance. Or the office bully may be planning to steal your job (and higher pay) by making it look as though he or she is carrying out your job duties under the guise of "helping" you meet deadlines.

Whatever the scenario, there are several things you can do to set limits. Here are a few ideas:

1. Avoid too much casual chitchat. A crafty person might appear to be offering a helping hand while checking out your progress and style with a view to claiming your work as his or hers. If you feel that someone is nosing around for no good reason, politely but firmly insist you must get back to work and will chat at break time. Avoid being too friendly with someone who may be trying to take advantage of you.

2. Document everything. Keep a daily file with copies of work completed each day. If you work on the computer, keep a back-up file or disk so that work cannot be sabotaged or duplicated without your consent. You also may want to keep a simple record of projects with their upcoming due-dates. If you decide to let a pushy colleague help, keep track of the work that the person completes and make a note of it for the file.

3. Set limits. If a colleague tries to convince you to do things another way, say "thanks" and you'll give it some thought. If the person gets pushy, smile briefly and explain that you find your method quite satisfactory but will keep an open mind for the future in terms of trying something new. When a coworker who is not your supervisor becomes critical of your work, offer gratitude for the helpful feedback and let it go at that.

4. Avoid conflict. While it may not always be possible, to the best of your ability try not to argue. Some people thrive on it and will escalate small tensions to push for a dispute. Agree when possible, avoid at other times, and maintain a mild manner and upbeat attitude when push comes to shove.

5. See the supervisor. If the problem continues or grows worse, ask your supervisor to speak with the aggressor about maintaining a productive workplace. You also may want to request a change of office to avoid proximity with an assertive coworker. If nothing more, you can alert your boss to the problem and explain your view of things. The matter can be confidentially documented and filed. If the situation deteriorates over time, your bases are covered.

It takes all kinds of employees to operate a job site. Unfortunately, some may try to throw their weight around to win perks, exert authority, or impress others. Hold your stand against those who attempt to breach your boundaries and interrupt your work.

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How can I boost my self confidence at work

Have you ever felt that you are just acting out the role of smart executive at work, when underneath the façade, you really feel as if you’re floundering? If the answer is “yes”, be prepared to recognise the scenario and to do something about your feelings. You can learn to think positively and silently boost your confidence in every potentially threatening work situation.

Do you secretly take work home with you on a regular basis in an attempt to keep one step ahead? Recognise that you are not “slow” or uninformed. It is more likely that you have unrealistic expectations of yourself. If you tend to take work home with you at night, it could be that you are simply a perfectionist, putting too many demands upon yourself. Alternatively, others could be putting on you and just expecting too much of you. Your confidence will improve once you accept that it is impossible for any worker to be perfect. You are in fact, doing your best and that is certainly good enough.

Does your confidence plummet at meetings? Your colleagues appear more knowledgeable, more professional, more dynamic –they even seem totally relaxed and enjoying the intermittent banter that is an integral part of most meetings. Appearances, however, can be deceptive. Look objectively at the situation. There is no real reason for you to feel intimidated by this charade. Others are acting, too. You are just as worthy as anyone else in that room and your contribution is just as valuable. Keep this fact in mind throughout the meeting and avoid trying to blend in with the background. Once you have successfully raised your points and enjoyed some positive feedback from your colleagues, your confidence will grow. It will be much easier next time.

Do you hold back on general office conversation through lack of confidence? This situation can change if you take a step back and look at your position within the group. If you think that everyone else’s conversation is much smarter than yours, think again. The best way to tackle this self-doubt is to stop comparing yourself with others. Everyone can offer a unique point of view and everyone’s views are valuable.

Do you lack confidence in your academic ability? Remind yourself of the fact that, in today’s business environment, academic achievement is being used less and less as a basis for evaluating people’s intelligence. Communication skills are more important. The ability to get on with people, negotiate compromises and smooth over difficult work situations is far more relevant. In addition, if you show people that you respect them for the above qualities, they will reciprocate. This will boost your confidence in your ability to interact with colleagues.

Is lack of positive feedback crushing your confidence? Lack of positive feedback often stems from pressure of work and everyone suffering a heavy workload. It is not a personal issue and does not mean that you are no good at your job. In quieter moments, take the lead and ask for constructive feed back from your boss or colleagues. More importantly, make a point of mentally praising yourself at the end of every single working day.

Finally, it is worth bearing in mind that a certain amount of humility or the occasional hint of self-doubt is not necessarily a bad thing. It can often work to your advantage, provided that it is kept in perspective. It can indicate that you are really thinking about what you are doing and that you have your company’s interests genuinely at heart.

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Office theft management

Every employer has horror stories about the person who walked off with ten cases of copy paper; boxes of pens disappearing at the same time as school starts and notepads vanishing by the truckload. And while most employers don't mind seeing a few pens disappear out the door some are finding thousands of dollars disappear yearly into a black hole of employee petty theft - hardly something that can be overlooked for long.

There are a variety of solutions to this problem depending on how the employer wants to handle it - and of course, how serious the problem is or is perceived to be.

One solution is to implement a hard and fast rule: sign in/out for everything. Every pencil, every Post-It, every copy made at the Xerox machine is accounted for. But that leads to an increased amount of paperwork for all involved, and tends to decrease office morale. Not to mention you might have to hire an extra person to keep track of all the details; perhaps making up for that lost cash at the end of the year. In large companies there are specific employees dedicated to just this task, tracking and keeping records of the thrifty departments and those who are lax about keeping track of their supplies and hence need more money at the end of the year to replace lost equipment.

So how to maintain some sense of supply security at a low cost?

Make it known that while a certain amount of leakage is expected there are limits to your generosity. It's one thing to hunt down and discipline an employee for taking a pen home, another to discover that your assistant has been using the color printer to make fifty copies of his son's English assignment. A short memo can lay out the borderlines of what is acceptable and what is not - including the punishments which can range from just being forced to pay back the cost of the supplies used to dismissal depending on the legal relationship you have with your employees. Laid out properly you should have a reduction in your losses due to just putting it out in the open and letting the workers know where the limits are for such things.

Another option is to include freebies inside and outside the office. Make certain products available for the specific purpose of having them spread outside the work environment either through "borrowing" or handing them out to guests. T-shirts or posters are readily available at a low cost and it will raise the morale of your employees to get something for nothing and make them more cheerful about their workplace; probably leading to less theft as they don't feel the need to "get even" with the employer.

The morale of your employees is directly related to the amount of theft in your workplace. Arrange casual days, BBQs and other boosters to make your workers happy and comfortable with the environment.

There will always be supplies lost no matter what you do. People will walk off with pens; customers and visitors will help themselves to a "souvenir" and accidents will happen. The toner will leak over a stack of Xerox paper; the new photocopier accidentally prints fifty copies instead of five due to a computer programming error. But by allowing your employees a degree of freedom with the supplies you'll not only save in the long run by not paying someone extra to monitor your stockroom, you'll have happier employees who won't see the cheap satisfaction in "stealing" from the company.

In the end a small investment can result in a reduced shrinkage for your company and happier employees - hopefully raising your profits and lowering your turnover in the long run. A few dollars spent on free lunches or shirts might just save you that hundred dollar copying bill that no one wants to confess to; or that stack of pens that mysteriously keeps disappearing each week.

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