Two sessions I attended at the Nashville PLA Spring Symposium Turning the Page workshop: ” It’s all about You” and ” Show Me the Money.”
It’s all about you: How to Make a Lasting Impression
Renee Cole modeled the best and the worst public speaking and personal style examples for our group in an entertaining and inspirational 75 minute session. Renee is living her purpose and advocacy is her passion. To help us become more effective when we speak about the library and when we need to ask for funding, Renee demonstrated how effective public speaking and making a positive impression influences our success. She advised: when telling your story, know how you are going to start and what the bottom line is. Know what you want from the audience. Have a logical flow/sequence. Use stories, analogies, data.
Take Aways:
Have a clear message.
Know your audience.
Be passionate about what you’re sharing.
In another great session, Show me the money: Tips for making public funding requests, Debra Hamilton acknowledged the sad truth right up front. Asking for money is hard. We all fear the No word. In the current economy, it’s more challenging than ever but it’s not impossible. In order to make our case we need to be:
Compelling
Sharp
Persuasive
Debra broke us up into smaller groups and we discussed our community priorities and identified how the library aligned with those priorities. Some examples from our groups:
• Literacy for YA-GED as a community service and the value of that to community ROI thru surveys and success stories reported out to their communities;
• Access to technology. The library meets need by providing internet access/training. It’s important to track computer use and how many people trained;
• The library as place, as a community connection. This aligns with the hunger for community priority.
Hamilton emphasized we need to show results and highlight where the library aligns with community priorities. Create buzz around what your library does. She encouraged us to identify 3 community priorities and how the library is meeting them and how we can be sure the community is aware of our contributions to those priorities. How can/does the library help in a time of unemployment, budget cuts and falling property values? These are both challenges and opportunities.
What if the answer is no? No = dialogue. Ask questions. Help me understand why this is no. No is hard to say; harder still if you make a good case.
Take Aways:
When preparing to make a funding request, consider:
Who?—Your target who will say yes or no to the ask.
Example: City Council or mayor.
What?—what are you asking for? Clear statement (1 sentence) that is specific, accurate, realistic, documented/researched.
Why? Do you need it? (evidence). Community needs-which are met? Tell stories. Relatively small dollar amount impacts lots of people; what are the consequences of not funding?
How/Where? How are you going to get there, strategy, road map, how will I stay on track in terms of getting a commitment?
When? Year round process. Take steps throughout the year to lay groundwork for requests. Develop your touch points all along the way so the ask isn’t a surprise .
Presentations should have a wow factor. “Wow, I didn’t know the library did that!”
