We need to be thoughtful about what we let slide.
We won’t be able to argue every point. Every infraction. Every unfairness or wrongness. We are going to need to pick our battles. Otherwise, we risk driving everyone up the wall; bridges will be burned, and we won’t get anywhere. We will be weeded out in no time. Like Disney’s Dumbo movie, the powerful elephants will turn their backs, tighten the circle and not let us in. We also risk burning out.
At times we do need to be a blade of grass and bend with the wind. Yet, our roots are still grounded. We haven’t moved.
This is where the strategy comes in.
What do we invest our time in?
What will produce the long-term outcome that we are seeking?
What zone are you playing? Defence or offense? Are you litigating or collaborating?
Remember that systems are gears all connected together. Move one gear, and it will impact another. We may see movement from the gear in front of us, and then when they start to move, they will face resistance from the ones they are connected to. What may feel like betrayal of the gear that promised us change, their backtracking is reflecting a larger picture and network that we don’t see.
And so we re-strategize.
When is the right time to take our next step?
Should we sit this one out as it benefits a few other steps coming up down the line?
Sometimes complaints are being filed just to communicate and alert the people in positions of authority reading the complaints, what is happening. Documentation and creating a history. Sometimes, that is enough. As larger goals are down the line. Other times, we place our energy elsewhere.
We can’t really apply the same micro-level advocacy strategies to macro-level systems. It won’t work. Teams of people and the relationships between systems function differently. Getting the immediate needs for one person and society’s needs as a whole may require different levers to be pulled. The timeline for response is different. Who we are engaging with is different. Many things are different. The rules of engagement are different. But also, because we are representing groups of people and not one individual, doors may open that were once closed for the individual. The power of numbers can really be a positive influence here.
Systemic advocacy isn’t just about “me”. It’s about “we”. And what the “we” group of people think/want/need may be completely different than what your perspective is. People’s priorities and understanding may be on a whole other planet.
The hard part is when you need to build a relationship with someone you don’t want to spend 5 min with. And if you don’t….who is going to pay for that misconnection down the line?
No one goes to war and just wings it. No one performs in a theatre show or dance performance without practice. Comedians practice night after night, smoothing out the edges and testing out their new bits. Hoping to captivate their audience.
Why would advocacy deserve less time and attention, when the stakes are so high?
Advocacy is so important. So vital. It is worthy of time and thoughtful planning. Worthy of a rehearsal. It requires strategy. Short-term and long-term goals braided together as one.
The most vulnerable people in society are going to need us to do the hard work. They need us to strategize. Be consistent , thoughtful, and keep going. The X-Men movies, where kids go to school to hone and learn how to use their superpowers, are a good analogy. All that fuel inside of us cannot be untamed. We need to use all that energy in a focused and planned way. Doesn’t mean your eye laser protection glasses won’t accidentally fall of your head from time to time and you burn down the wrong house, but thoughtful planning and honing your skills into intentional work will get you much farther.
Strategize.