[Ask a couple of volunteers to share their favorite talking points.] slide 16 cont. Approx. 3 min Total time: 50 min Core Concepts Third step in deliver your message stage is to tell your story Your story should be very brief--highlights Your story plays a pivotal role in shifting perceptions The third step in the delivering your message stage is to tell your story. In the context of a meeting, your should be very brief—just a few lines that touch on the highlights of your story and that bring a human face to the issue being discussed. This is where you can use highlights from your story you developed in the Telling Your Story training or in Emails and Phone Calls. As we mention in the Telling Your Story training, focusing on what helped or what would have helped and emphasizing recovery or hope is helpful to gaining empathy. Telling your story briefly in a meeting can leave a powerful impression and plays a pivotal role in moving or shifting the perceptions of policymakers. Worksheet: Checklist for Meeting Your Policymaker Take a moment to find where Jenny shares her story in the demo. What struck you about the story and its impact? What line caught your attention? [Ask a volunteer or two to comment and share a line.] slide 16 cont. Approx. 3 min Total time: 53 min Core Concepts Fourth and fifth steps in deliver your message The fourth and fifth steps in the delivering your message stage are to propose a solution or describe what will help and to make an “ask.” The “what will help” and the “ask” should seem very natural to those who have taken Telling Your Story or Emails and Phone Calls. While these are a vital part of a successful meeting, they are often overlooked or overstated. Worksheet: Checklist for Meeting Your Policymaker
stage are to describe what will help and make an “ask” What will help and “ask” should be stated simply Repeat second stage if you have another issue or two The solution or what will help should be stated simply. In our demo, what will help is accompanied by a couple of talking points that help support the solution. The solution is followed by the “ask,” or what action or position you would like your policymaker to take on your issue. The “ask” should be as specific as possible. This is necessary in order to get a response that lets you know if you can count on your policymaker or not. After the “ask” is a natural point to draw your meeting to a close. If you have another issue or two that you’d like to discuss and have time, you may repeat the stage 2 process to deliver your message(s) before closing the meeting. Take a moment to find what will help others and the “ask” in the demo. Why is the solution and “ask” important to a meeting with your policymaker? [Ask a volunteer or two to comment.] slide 16 cont. Approx. 7 min Total time: 1 hr Core Concepts The third stage is to Close on a positive note Provide info with fact sheets or legislative packets; also business card and brochures Offer to be a resource on mental health issues The third stage of your meeting is Close on a positive note. This includes saying thank you, but also includes some options for furthering your relationship. Like the opening of a meeting, it is an important time to develop a positive connection. One option that close on a positive note is to provide information. A fact sheet on your issue or a general fact sheet on mental illness is an excellent “leave-behind” for your policymaker. Another leave-behind that is useful is a folder with information on your organization’s legislative priorities. To get the most mileage from your leave-behinds, write the bill number for your lead issue across the top. This will ensure that your materials are filed with the “bill file” and don’t go in the “round file,” or recycling bin. Worksheet: Checklist for Meeting Your Policymaker