SDITE Leadership Development Workshop -- Building Relationships with Elected Officials

Building Effective RelationshipsWith Elected Officials

Presented by:

Zaki MustafaLADOTCity of Los Angeles

SDITE Leadership Development Workshop -- Building Relationships with Elected Officials

Background

v Many transportation professionals fear elected officials

v Good relationships can have tremendous benefits

v Very few in ITE have specific training

v Most want training but don’t know a source

SDITE Leadership Development Workshop -- Building Relationships with Elected Officials

What do most people envision when they think of elected officials?

SDITE Leadership Development Workshop -- Building Relationships with Elected Officials

Understanding Elected Officials

v Risk reputation/money in election processv Generally have short term focusv Have political platforms and multiple constituentsv Don’t like to be surprised or embarrassedv Expect us to be problem solversv Don’t like technical jargonv Are held accountable by voters

SDITE Leadership Development Workshop -- Building Relationships with Elected Officials

Communications Tips

v Let official set pace, tone and stylev Adapt your communication stylev Yes does not always mean yesv Provide solutions before they askv Avoid saying “NO”v Clarify understandingsv Identify special needs

SDITE Leadership Development Workshop -- Building Relationships with Elected Officials

Learn To Communicate Effectively

v Communicate clearlyv Minimize acronyms and jargonv Create a process to educate and informv Seek opportunities for positive interaction

SDITE Leadership Development Workshop -- Building Relationships with Elected Officials

Show Respect to Official’s Role

v Respond promptly to requests or messages v Be flexible in problem solving v Recognize the official’s role and your rolev Don’t criticizev Form a partnership

SDITE Leadership Development Workshop -- Building Relationships with Elected Officials

Properly Equip Officials

v Make sure officials know your businessv Provide options (list best option first)v Be strategic in crafting optionsv Do your research (funding opportunities)

SDITE Leadership Development Workshop -- Building Relationships with Elected Officials

Become a “Go To” Person

v Understand elected officials’ rolesv Become THE reliable source of informationv Gain statue in the profession you practicev Be a problem solverv Be a “Person of your word”

SDITE Leadership Development Workshop -- Building Relationships with Elected Officials

Seek Opportunities to Recognize

v Credit where credit is duev Credit at times when it is not duev Be careful not to omit an elected officialv Be willing to take some blame

SDITE Leadership Development Workshop -- Building Relationships with Elected Officials

Adopt a Code of Conduct

v Truthful and transparentv Don’t take sidesv Honor confidentialityv Don’t let your ego get involved

SDITE Leadership Development Workshop -- Building Relationships with Elected Officials

Summary

1. Learn to communicate effectively2. Show honor/respect to elected officials3. Properly equip elected officials to deal with their

constituents4. Become THE “go to” person5. Seek opportunities to recognize/thank elected

officials for contributions6. Adopt a code of conduct to live by

SDITE Leadership Development Workshop -- Building Relationships with Elected Officials

Questions/Comments?

SDITE Leadership Development Workshop -- Building Relationships with Elected Officials

Together we are the BEST