Relational Leadership

Building Politically Effective Relationships with StakeholdersOctober 20, 2010

A Political Effectiveness Work Group Presentation

WELCOME!OVERVIEW OF COOPERATIVE EXTENSION’S POLITICAL EFFECTIVENESS EFFORT

Dan Wilson, Professor Emeritus

•WHAT WE SAY ABOUT PE • “Doing good work” is not sufficient to build

awareness or political support • WE must take the leadership roles in building

awareness and political support for CE• Less than ½ of county offices (and many

individuals) have a strategy for communicating value of CE – building relationships with stakeholders

EXPECTATIONS OF THIS SESSION

• Questions and participatory dialog are expected

• Safe environment – what is said here stays here

• Have fun!

EVALUATION

• What are some of your “take homes” from this session?

• How could this session have been improved?• What further PE resources and training are

needed?• What should be addressed/included in CE’s

PE Action Plan?

POLITICAL EFFECTIVENESS:THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY

Rosemary Potter, Director of Government Relations, UW Colleges and UW-Extension

Pete Kling, Community Resource Development Agent, St. Croix County

Kristine Zaballos, Editor, Cooperative Extension PublicationsPamela Seelman, Public Information Specialist, Dean’s Office

What is your definition of political effectiveness?

Political effectiveness is…

• Responsive educational programs• Strong relationships with key decision makers• Effective communications• Fiscal awareness and political sensitivity

Responsive educational programs:Have you done any of the following?

• Involved elected officials, partners, clients and friends in program planning?

• Incorporate UW system resources into program planning?

• Consider potential political impacts when planning programs?

• Other?

Strong relationships with key decision makers:Have you done any of the following?

• Developed a database of influential decision-makers and key supporters?

• Developed and maintain professional networks?• Worked to establish relationships with elected

officials beyond the Ag and Extension Committee?

• Worked with other county, state and federal agencies to establish collaborative relationships?

• Other?

Effective communications

• Developed a strategic marketing or promotions plan?

• Invite key decision makers to participate in Cooperative Extension events?

• Work with traditional and social media outlets to communicate the value of your programming?

• Know how to explain the work of your colleagues as well as your own?

• Other

Fiscal awareness and political sensitivity

• Maintain communications with people who are influential in budget development and adoption?

• Share impacts, outcomes, successes and financial benefits of your work with key decision makers?

• Seek to understand the structure and nuance of the budgeting process?

• Know who’s influential to the budget process and know what their interests are?

• Other?

THREE LEVELS OF COMMUNICATION FOR RELATIONAL LEADERSHIP

Kelly Haverkampf, Community Development Educator, Vilas County

Three Levels of Communication for Relational Leadership

Level Relationship Principle Reaction

1. Belief Credibility I believe youI don’t believe you

2. Understanding Quality of information translation

I understand youI don’t understand you

3. Agreement Values, position, politics

I agree with youI don’t agree with you

Working on Real Situations

RESPONSIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

Eloisa Gomez, Director of the Milwaukee County Cooperative Extension OfficeKaren Nelson, Columbia County Cooperative Extension Office Department Head and 4-H Youth Development Educator

STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH KEY DECISION MAKERS

Kelly Haverkampf, Community Development Educator, Vilas County

Mapping your Circle of Influence

• List your regular contacts in your job or position• Are they decision makers or influencers?• What are your communication points with the

influencers?• What are their communication points with the

decision makers?• How consistent are the messages along each

communication line?

County-based Community

Development Educator

County Board

County Extension

Committee

County Department

Head

UWEX Administration

UWEX Program Leader

State Legislators

UWEX District Director

Program Participants

and Volunteers

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

Pamela Seelman, Public Information Specialist, Dean’s Office

Effective communications are…

• Honest and open communications with decision makers about the mutual benefits of our partnership.

Communications matter!

• Engage in open and ongoing dialog• Communicate with multiple audiences • Explain the value, breadth of our programs• Share success stories, impacts and outcomes• Use evaluation tools and reports to

demonstrate accountability, program impacts

CHANGING OUR BLUEPRINT

Rosemary Potter, Director of Government Relations, UW Colleges and UW-Extension

432 N. Lake Street608 263-7678

rosemary.potter@uwex.uwc.edu

www.uwex.uwc.edu/government/

Changing our Blueprint

•

Changing our Blueprint

•We are Resourceful

•Keep an Open Perspective•

•Continue the Conversation

Changing our Blueprint

• Make Requests

• All Perspectives Are Legitimate

• Don’t Take Things Personally

Changing our Blueprint

• “I’m a beginner at…”

• “Help me understand…”

What are your challenges, situations?

EVALUATION

• What are some of your “take homes” from this session?

• How could this session have been improved?• What further PE resources and training are

needed?• What should be addressed/included in CE’s

PE Action Plan?