Whenever someone asks us how important it is to have a professional advocating for them, we respond with a question that often stops the conversation in its tracks and starts a new one.
“Would you be your own attorney?”
The smart answer is, “No.”
The law and the courts are complex. There are rules to play by, conduct codes to follow, and dynamics that have to be understood.
There’s no difference between having a professional representing you in a court of law and having a professional representing you in a court of public opinion to implement strategic planning, communications, or advocacy programs.
You have to know the audience. You have to know the players. You have to understand what people think and feel and what makes them tick.
Whether you’re trying to form a strategic plan for a non-profit, defuse a PR crisis, support or oppose a referendum, highlight an issue in the public forum, or pass legislation, it’s important to have someone in your corner who understands how the pieces fit together so you have the best chance to achieve your planning, communications, or advocacy goals.
The South Carolina General Assembly is a prime example of this.
According to a recent study, 1992 bills and resolutions were introduced in the state legislature’s two-year session that ended this past June. Of those, roughly 1700 didn’t pass.
That puts the percentage of bills passing at around 14 percent — compared to the legislative session ending in 2008 where 18 percent of legislation made it through successfully.
It’s a difficult system to navigate, and chances are, if you’re successfully growing your business, organization, or association, you don’t have time to do the research, build the relationships, design the strategy, and implement the programs necessary to communicate your issue or get it in front of decision-makers who can offer the best assistance.
So when you’re trying to plan, when you’re trying to communicate, when you’re trying to advocate and wonder if it’s really that important to have someone in your corner, just ask yourself, “Would I be my own attorney?”
If you wouldn’t, find a professional or a firm with the expertise to help you. We’d love to talk with you about it, and if we aren’t the right fit, we’ll gladly help you find someone who is.
