Setting the Scene – Advocacy 101

03 Jul Setting the Scene – Advocacy 101

Dear Here to Help,

I am the CEO of a small professional association. We want to advocate on behalf of our members and profession. Where do I start?

Hi,

Before you get started, it’s important to “set the scene”.

Sometimes, people come to me with a “solution” and examples that feel as though they have been retrofitted to that “solution”. Or even one example and a “solution” that feels retrofitted to that example.

So, let’s start with setting the scene. There are 2 simple steps to “setting the scene.”

First, describe your problem, as though you are explaining it to a friend who doesn’t know anything about your work. Do it out loud! This may feel silly, but saying things out loud helps you explain simply and clearly.

Now write it down – again, as though it were an email or letter to that friend. This should be 1-3 paragraphs and max ½ a page. Add a real-life story. All up, this should be under 1 page.

So, that’s part 1 of “setting the scene” finished. And you have made it personal – and relatable – with your story.

Second, brainstorm solutions for the problem you described. Once you have a list of solutions, look at what they all have in common. This should be a higher-level solution, that makes our whole community a better place to live, work and do business in.

This is part 2 of your “scene setting” – your broad aim. You can start slotting individual solutions in here. If a solution doesn’t fit your broad aim, refine either the solution or the aim.

Let’s take an example.

An allied health professional association wants private health funds to create a new benefit category for that profession.

Problem – consumers are not necessarily aware that they can claim private health fund benefits for consultations with these allied health professionals.

Broad Aim – raise awareness among consumers that benefits are available for consultations with these allied health professionals.

What we have done here is look at the problem our initial “solution” is trying to solve. By approaching advocacy this way, we have broadened our advocacy opportunities and created new ways to work with private health funds to educate their members, rather than just advocating to them.

I look forward to hearing how you go.

This article comes from my column entitled “Here to Help” in Hunter Local, July 2025. If you have an everyday problem just begging for a simple, real world solution, send it to “Here to Help” and let’s see what we can achieve.

Elaine Abery has a closet full of great ideas and empowering solutions. She’s also the Director of Unravelling Red Tape, a company dedicated to helping everyday people, not-for-profits and companies change the world through improved decision-making and legislation.

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