Understanding and Managing Opposition for Library Workers

In this presentation I discuss the best ways to manage opposition to a library ballot initiative or advocacy campaign. This presentation was first presented in 2017 but many of the features of this session remain true today.

For more information about my presentations and workshops, visit pcsweeney.com/speaking

1. UNDERSTANDING AND
MANAGING OPPOSITION
PC SWEENEY
@PCSWEENEY
PCSWEENEY.COM
UNDERSTANDING AND
MANAGING OPPOSITION
PATRICK “PC” SWEENEY
@PCSWEENEY
WWW.PCSWEENEY.COM

2. How to Avoid OppositionHOW DO WE AVOID
OPPOSITION?

3. BEFORE YOU ASK FOR
ANYTHING…

4. Take Advantage of time
TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF TIME

5. Take Advantage of timeIDENTIFY YOUR SUPPORTERS
AND THE OPPOSITION EARLY

6. Take Advantage of time
UNDERSTAND THE
DATA

7. The problem with our data
THE PROBLEM WITH
OUR DATA

8. The problem with our data
CREATE DATA

9. Haycock rule
HAYCOCK
RULE

10. Build Relations with potential Opposition
Groups
•Lance Werner Story
BUILD RELATIONSHIPS
BEFORE THEY OPPOSE YOU

11. Build from opposition
•Use opposition to build your organization
IGNORE THE
OPPOSITION

12. Start Counter Messaging EarlySTART COUNTER
MESSAGES EARLY

13. Start Education Campaign
START AN EDUCATION
CAMPAIGN

14. Present facts and information
PRESENT FACTS AND
DATA EARLY

15. DON’T
ØLIE
ØEMBELISH
ØEXAGERATE

16. Connect to their already held beliefs
•Connect the issues the beliefs that they already hold.
CONNECT TO THEIR
ALREADY HELD BELIEFS

17. WHERE DOES
OPPOSITION COME FROM?

18. WHAT ARE SOME OPPOSITION
CLAIMS THAT YOU’VE HEARD?

19. WHAT IS THE GOAL OF
ADDRESSING OPPOSITION?

20. Don’t Argue
DON’T ARGUE

21. Yes and Examples
INDIRECTLY
COUNTER
WITH STORIES

22. Alinsky
Start where they are
SAUL ALINSKI
“IT IS NECESSARY TO BEGIN WHERE THE
WORLD IS IF WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE IT TO
WHAT WE THINK IT SHOULD BE.
THAT MEANS WORKING WITHIN THE SYSTEM”

23. Building Effective Counter Messages
BUILDING EFFECTIVE
COUNTER MESSAGES

24. 27-9-3
TWENTY SEVENNINETHREE

25. Yes and ExamplesYES,
AND,
EXAMPLES

27. Build from opposition
•Use opposition to build your organization
GOING NEGATIVE

28. Build from opposition
•Use opposition to build your organizationUSE OPPOSITION
TO BUILD YOUR ORG

29. Opposition Research
OPPOSITION
RESEARCH

30. Fighting Dirty
FIGHTING
DIRTY

31. Bots
BOTS

32. Click on Ads
CLICK ON
ADVERTISEMENTS

33. Click on Ads
INFILTRATE THEIR ORGANIZATIONS

34. Create a story
CREATE
A STORY

35. “use” the law
“USE”THELAW

36. BE DECEPTIVE

37. UNDERSTANDING AND
MANAGING OPPOSITION
PC SWEENEY
@PCSWEENEY
PCSWEENEY.COM
UNDERSTANDING AND
MANAGING OPPOSITION
PATRICK “PC” SWEENEY
@PCSWEENEY
WWW.PCSWEENEY.COM