What are the most effective ways to engage with policymakers?

1. Start pushing at an open door. 2. Understand what policymakers want from researchers 3. Collaborate with others. 4. Think long term 5. Join the dots Influencing policy is also about influencing pressure groups, think tanks, the public etc, not just government policymakers. A many-pronged approach can be particularly effective.

"Seeing is believing"...was one of my approaches to help policymakers gain awareness and understanding about the Internet and how digital tools and access was transforming both industry and education. I hosted site visits and field trips with ample discussions built into the programs to showcase examples where it was effectively implemented so they could imagine how it might work in their environments and have real-world examples to draw from as they advocated for support of new initiatives.

Based on my professional experience, I have observed that convening all policymakers for collaborative efforts results in more cohesive team documents and more effective policies that govern any organization, business, or institution. It is crucial for stakeholders to have a voice, to be heard, and to contribute freely and openly. I have found that when a policy is being drafted, incorporating input from all stakeholders, including employees and other legal entities, makes the policy more inclusive and less restrictive.

No one won a policy initiative by trying to change someone’s mind with force. Meet your policymaker where they are - what do they value? What’s important to them? Why? Does your policy change threaten their identity? Their livelihood? What’s a tiny step in the right direction that is a safe yes? I always look for bipartisan agreement but approach the conversation inside their listening. If they are listening to disagree with me, find a way to change their listening to where they agree with me. It’s also important to know what have they promised their constituents. Career politicians need to keep enough promises to get reelected.

When i was with OSHAssociation-UK, i worked with policy makers around the OSH implementation in Nigeria; especially in the civil service. I understood for sure that these persons have years of experience in the field as compared to me who was just venturing into the industry. for me trick was simple, and here is my advice Meet your policymaker where they are - what do they value sometimes a visit to the golf course could be more productive compared to the cliche office setting? What’s important to them? Why? Does your policy change threaten their identity? Their livelihood? What’s a tiny step in the right direction that is a safe, yes? And with that, working with them will become a walk in the park

It would be very good to actually tailor your communication style and message to the preferences and priorities of the policymakers you're engaging with. On this ,be genuine and sincere in your interactions, avoiding manipulation or insincerity. Also consider being open to feedback and willing to adjust your approach based on new information.

Partir en étant prêt à se remettre en question si nécessaire est important, car si on reste sur ses positions il y a peu de chance que l’échange aboutisse. Cela veut dire qu’on a envisagé d’autres biais, qu’on est prêt à proposer d’autres pistes et à s’adresser à d’autres collaborateurs pour faire évoluer le projet.

Developing trust and rapport with school policymakers is crucial for nurturing productive communication, forging collaborative partnerships, improving decision-making, providing support, and boosting engagement. Prioritizing trust and rapport in their interactions enables educators and policymakers to collaborate more effectively, leading to positive transformations in education.

Generar confianza no siempre es una tarea fácil pero es muy importante lograrlo para que nos presten atención. Que nos conozcan bien y tengan referencias nuestras ayudan a que puedan confiar en nosotros.

O primeiro passo é tatear para ver se os tomadores de decisão aceitam a contribuição técnica para tomar decisões baseadas em dados. Caso haja permeabilidade, o passo seguinte é justamente o de mostrar ao tomador de decisão as diversas rotas para conseguir esses dados, bem como a utilidade desses dados na tomada de decisão em si. Fazer isso de maneira didática e em uma linguagem acessível é importante, uma vez que normalmente os tomadores de decisão não são técnicos com vivência em análise de dados (e nem deveria se esperar isso deles). E, finalmente, todo o processo deve ser feito com extrema transparência, com paciência e empatia, para que todos os atores envolvidos percebam que existe de fato anseio pelas soluções.

The best policymakers are consultative. They know that there is a lot that they don't know and actively seek opportunities to learn. But that comes with the challenge of information overload. The best thing you can do to help yourself is to help them: make your story concise and compelling, and include with it a clear ask. They want to take action on the information you've shared, the ask tells them how.

Engaging with policymakers in K-12 education requires clear, concise communication to capture attention effectively. Craft a message that outlines the issue, proposed solutions, and their impact. Use accessible language, leverage data and evidence, and connect the issue to broader educational goals. Personalize the message with relatable stories, acknowledge policymakers' time constraints, and build ongoing relationships through respectful, two-way communication. This approach ensures that your message is heard, understood, and considered in the policymaking process.

Policymakers and most progressional are busy all the time. We have to learn how to communicate clearly and shortly. The spam of an attention of a busy person is less than others, because all the things that we have to put our attention on. That is way the first words that came out of our moths have to be powerful enough to get their attention.

A todos nos pasa que cuando hay mensajes que no son claros y nos cuesta decodificarlos terminamos dejándolos de lado y no les prestamos atención. Cuanto mas claros y concisos seamos con nuestro mensaje tendremos mayor aceptación.

To engage effectively with policymakers, prepare a concise, fact-based brief that highlights key points and recommendations. Avoid using technical jargon and ensure your communication is clear and accessible to facilitate understanding and action.

Direct meetings with policymakers are highly effective for personalised communication and detailed discussions. In contrast, mass emails or petitions often lack impact due to their impersonal nature, whereas testifying at legislative hearings can significantly influence policy by presenting well-researched arguments and engaging directly with decision-makers.

Building relationships with policymakers through regular, informed communication and personal engagement is highly effective. In contrast, relying solely on impersonal methods like mass petitions may lack the impact needed for meaningful policy influence.

Using channels available to open dialogue and provide feedback from grassroots level. Collaborating when the opportunity arises. Using online platforms to address matters and to highlight both concerns as well as successes.

Feedback is the invaluable response or reaction provided by your audience, serving as a catalyst for refining communication strategies and enhancing overall impact. Engaging in meaningful dialogue and feedback sessions with policymakers involves various proactive approaches, such as posing pertinent questions, encouraging insightful comments, empathetically acknowledging concerns, and proffering constructive solutions. By actively soliciting and attentively listening to feedback from policymakers, educators can foster collaborative partnerships, nurture mutual understanding, and drive positive change in education.

One of the most valuable ways to engage with policymakers is identifying areas of improvement and providing solutions. The second piece of that is the most critical. Being able to provide solutions shows that you are informed, and that you take your work seriously.

Most advocates try and force feed their message down everyone’s throats. It doesn’t work. Ask a LOT of questions to broaden the thinking of the people whose mind you need to change. A prosecutor has to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. A defense attorney just needs to prove innocence MIGHT be possible. Policy making is a LONG game. What’s the change you want 10 years from now and what baby steps of change can you make happen along the way that will make the big change palatable by the time you accomplish it.

Feedback serves as a valuable response or reaction from your audience, offering insights to refine communication strategies and amplify overall effectiveness. While feedback is essential, it's important to recognize that it's impossible to please everyone. Ultimately, the needs and interests of students should take precedence over all other considerations. Their welfare and educational experience should remain the primary focus when making decisions or implementing policies.

It is important to understand that policy issues are complex, and not all facets can be resolved at once. A thorough analysis is necessary to identify key issues and pinpoint a starting point. This can then be condensed into a key ask that is supported by evidence to drive towards achieving your goals. Achieving policy reform often requires multiple engagements. My favorite case study of this is the Kenya Association of Manufacturers' advocacy for policy actions on counterfeits, which led to the establishment of the Kenya Anti-Counterfeits Authority. This sustained advocacy effort took approximately 12 years and is still ongoing to effectively curb counterfeit goods.

Policymakers are stakeholders in your school. Involve them in what you are doing. Keep them informed on a regular basis by sharing newsletters and reports. Invite them to your school events, to speak in classes, and to participate in community projects. Pay attention to the work they are doing and send letters of thanks.

Si queremos que alguien nos escuche cuando le hablamos de algo en especial y esa persona desconoce del tema o no está de acuerdo con el mismo, lo primero que tenemos que hacer es que conozca del tema y que podamos cambiar su preconcepto sino todo lo que le digamos luego no será escuchado atentamente.