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The Burning Ring of Your Constituent Relationship |
You’ve finally beefed up your housefile. You’re emailing your constituents a monthly e-newsletter. You’ve even started a Facebook page. But for some reason, things are just not taking off with your constituents like you thought they would. Where did things go wrong?
It’s time to re-evaluate the love. You may have captured the hearts of your constituency, but that doesn’t mean you can leave the fire burning unattended.
How do you mend an ailing constituent relationship? Start by letting them know how much you appreciate them. Validate their involvement in your organization. To some, involvement may mean signing up for your newsletter. This is good! Show them how much their contributions – even if it’s just their email address – make a difference. If you wish to cultivate a more intimate relationship, inspire them and re-kindle the love and hope that brought you together in the first place.
How do you know if the love you have with your constituents is true? Reach out and ask them. If they are still interested but are feeling abandoned, misled or confused they will most certainly let you know. Give them the opportunity to be heard.
Also, communication is key, but too much mindless chatter can turn an otherwise sweet relationship sour. Send your constituents meaningful communication that will interest them. Avoid sending out an email just to send something out. Your constituents may start to believe that you just aren’t listening to them or that perhaps you just want to hear yourself talk.
Lastly, cultivate a little love for yourself! Take some time to reflect on the work you do every day and remember that ultimately what you do makes a difference in the world. With so much to do and such little time to do it in, it can be easy to lose focus and forget. If you are not taking care of yourself you will have nothing to give to your constituents. Remember that, if nothing else and you will be well on your way to a healthy, passionate and long-lasting constituent relationship.
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