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It’s that time of year again, to announce the 2002 All-Showalter Team. The All-Showalter Team is comprised of government relations professionals who embody one or more necessary qualities of a grassroots avatar. A few gifted individuals are previous Team members from a different category, yet they exemplify other traits necessary for grassroots success.
Accountability - a candid assessment of our programs’ successes and failures builds internal organizational respect for all government relations work. Excuses and rationalizations are unacceptable to accountable government relations professionals.
- Sue Pechilio Polis, American Heart Association
Attention to Detail - Many of us are adequate self-starters; however, we have to be excellent self-finishers. The road to achievement in grassroots is bombarded with incomplete projects and loose ends. How many projects, initiatives, programs do we have that are lying on the shelves, or “in process?” While it’s good for some of them to stay on the shelf, it’s not a bad practice of getting in the habit of finishing what you start.
- Jacqueline Garry, New York Life Insurance Company
Curiosity/Innovation - Because grassroots activism is not a natural state of being, the astute grassroots leader knows that they always have to find new and innovative ways to get people engaged in their cause. Continuously asking questions as to why something is the way it is, or how it can be made better, is the essence of curiosity, and leads to innovation.
- Carter Headrick, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
Energy – Grassroots and PAC professionals are constantly coaching, instructing, educating, nurturing, and acknowledging the efforts of their members. This level of energy is almost biochemical in nature.
- Laura Feldman, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
Focus on Results - Focus creates efficiency. It allows us to ascertain whether or not a particular action will help us move toward our goal. Focus reminds you that if something is not helping you move toward your destination, then it’s not important. Less successful people are inflexible on outputs, deliverables, etc., but are flexible on their results. Successful people are focused on the results, and are flexible in how they get there.
- Dana Langley Birdsong, American College of Cardiology
- Melanie Young, Radiology Advocacy Alliance
Humor - The key is to take your responsibilities, but not yourself, too seriously. Everything must be kept in perspective. A sense of humor is appealing to PAC and grassroots members.
- Terry Lee Cook, American Motorcycle Association
- Mike Sullivan, State Farm Insurance - Georgia
- Bruce White, State Farm Insurance – South Carolina
Member Respect - Your grassroots and PAC members (whether corporate or individual) know if you truly value their contributions toward your organization’s success. Member respect entails seeking out the opinions of your members, and acting on their appropriate suggestions. This expression of trust accelerates their desire to get even more engaged in the process.
- John Sloan, Biotechnology Industry Organization
Risk Taking - Following the herd is rarely a recipe for success. Risky pursuits in one organization may be common practice in another, but if you are not making waves, you’re not accomplishing anything. What have you changed or altered from the “usual way of doing things around here?”
- Maureen Cassidy, American Heart Association, Northland Affiliate
Passion - The best grassroots leaders love what they do. While not everyday is bliss, they generally go to work with a sense of mission and belief in their cause.
- Renee Smith, American Heart Association
Planning/Goal Setting - Ad hoc PAC and grassroots efforts are rarely successful. Further, lack of planning and goal setting results in a lack of program momentum. Planning and goal setting increases the likelihood that your efforts will result in an organized, results-oriented program.
- Tracy Winn, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
Presentation Skills - To rally the troops for any cause, you have to speak! Preferably, your presentations are an experience, rather than just a transfer of knowledge.
- Greg Coker, BellSouth
Organization - Juggling multiple projects and initiatives is a constant challenge. The organized government relations professional keeps it all together. The result is a program with momentum and efficiency.
- Susan Goodman, Southwest Airlines
What a stellar combination of talents and skills!
Congratulations to the members of the third annual All-Showalter Team.