Don’t you hate it when someone tells you a fun or
interesting fact and then when you use it in another conversation, and take
credit for it (don’t act like you don’t, everyone does it), you embarrassingly discover
that the information was inaccurate? Well this may not come as a surprise, but
congressional staff hate it too. Like really hate it.
According to The Congressional Communications Report
released this summer by George Washington University’s Graduate School of
Political Management, Columbia Books, and Lobbyists.info, one of the largest
determining factors in getting congressional staff to meet (and re-meet) with
you is whether you can provide “credible, reliable information.” Congressional
staffers can have anywhere between 1 and 10 issue areas on their plate, and due
to the fluidity of the legislative calendar they usually need to acquire
credible information on a certain issue as quickly as possible. When that
moment arises where a vote comes up on one of your issues and that staffer is
looking for the latest information, they are going to remember that when they
met with you months ago that you provided them with reliable information. As a
result, when they choose who they are going to consult for information you will
be at the top of their list. On the other hand, if you give them faulty
information and they use it, they will look bad in front of their boss and
likely never consult you again. So while you’re focusing on which pieces of
super-useful information you’re going to provide them with, make sure you take
some time to make sure that information is also super-accurate. It’s worth the
extra time to double and triple-check your facts – It can be the difference
between making or breaking a relationship with a staffer.
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