Find Leadership Opportunities in Politics

Key Takeaways:

• Opportunities to get involved in politics are all around you.
• Getting started is easier than you might think.

The most common question I get from students is “How do I get into politics?”

There is an unfortunate (and false) belief that politics is so distant, so separate from our everyday lives that we as citizens are powerless to do anything. Frustration is the enemy of democracy, though. Even after an election, politics never ends. Whether it’s preparing for the next campaign, organizing at the community level or lobbying representatives, there is always an opportunity to get involved. All you really need is the energy and willingness to work.

Talk about a fantastic leadership opportunity.

Start by asking yourself what you want. You need a goal. It need not be a large one, but politics is not the pursuit of an abstract ideology; it is about finding solutions to collective problems. If you want to help your community, you need to think about what your community needs. Pick an issue or an area of public policy that is important to you and think about what you would like it to look like in your ideal world.

Whether you plan to run for office, just want to advocate for change or join a protest, it is always better to have a goal in mind. Protests are more likely to be successful when they have a specific aim. Candidates often have more success with voters when they can present plans and explain which issues they want to focus on. You cannot change everything all at once, so focus on or two specific goals to start with.

And then just start showing up! Candidates, parties and political causes are always looking for volunteers. School board meetings, city council meetings, state legislative hearings, etc. are public affairs (albeit virtual ones these days.) If you are willing to offer your time and energy, there is a political organization that will take it.

And there are no qualifications necessary.

This is, in some ways, the most difficult step, particularly for those who are not especially extraverted. But a great deal of political involvement is just showing up, getting to know people, making connections and letting people get familiar with you. A lot of volunteering will involve grunt work like knocking on doors or making phone calls, but you can also think about how your specific skills may be useful to a campaign or community organization.

In addition to the direct impact that participation can have, you will also be building your reputation and increasing the amount of access you have to policy makers. As you become known as a community figure (as someone who shows up) you will find that elected officials will take the time to meet with you. Politicians care about their constituents and are often more influenced by intensity (for example, people willing to take the time to show up) than they would be by mass public opinion polls.

Volunteering, whether you try to contact elected officials or knock on doors for a political campaign, can be a frustrating, thankless task. But it is effective. The time and effort that you put in as a political volunteer can have a significant impact eventually.

This is also a good thing to do if you aren’t particularly sure of your own political goals. The more that you see how systems operate, the more that you learn about issues, the more that your own ideas can evolve. Always be open to learning about policy and do not be afraid to challenge your own assumptions about how things work. 

You should also consider running for something. There are many groups that are always looking for new, talented candidates and can help you get started if you are interested in running for office. Many people mistakenly assume they lack the qualifications for office.

Studies show, for example, that women are less likely to run for office than men because women are less likely to believe they are qualified for office or have the ability to run a campaign.

Needless to say, an elected official does not have to be a white male with an MBA or a law degree. Representatives can (and ideally would) come from a wide range of backgrounds. Political parties often recruit candidates, which is yet another reason volunteering and showing up can be useful, and they have been increasing their outreach efforts to women and minorities. But there are also numerous groups online that can help you get started, help you fundraise and teach you how to campaign.

Even in an off year there are numerous local offices on the ballot. Most require only a modest fee, a valid voter registration and a few signatures to get on the ballot. These offices offer a chance to build experience and can be a stepping stone to higher office while giving you the chance to immediately contribute to your community.

Of course, you might lose. You might lose your election. Your lobbying efforts could fail. Your grassroots protest might fizzle out. Change is hard and may require sustained effort over many years before you start to see results.

But the important thing to remember is that free and fair democracy is a process, not an endpoint. If you lose a campaign, there is always another election. There is always another legislative session, or school board meeting or city council session.

There is always a “next” so get ready because politics never ends.