Political Staffers

Staffers are the trusted advisers, subject-matter experts and humble servants who guide their bosses through political hotspots every day. Having them on side is one of the biggest factors in campaign success — and the good news is, winning them over isn’t a dark art. It’s common sense, applied consistently.

Get to know them before you need a favour

Pick up the phone and introduce yourself, or take them for a coffee. If it’s the latter, be upfront that it’s a meet-and-greet, so expectations are managed on both sides. Avoid sitting days — they’re unpredictable, and staffers won’t have the headspace for it.

Ask what else they’re working on, and offer to help

It’s easy to forget there’s a whole portfolio of issues beyond the one you’ve been focused on. The average staffer is juggling several at once. If you can offer useful research, a contact, or an insight on something unrelated to your own issue, say so. If you can’t, at least acknowledge the load they’re carrying.

Be proactive in keeping them in the loop

Staying front of mind isn’t just a crisis-management tactic. Did your organisation win an award for gender diversity? Send a quick note to the adviser for the Minister for Women. It’ll be noted in the office, likely passed down to the department for their records, and may even resurface in a future briefing note. Small, low-effort updates compound over time.

Take notes on the person, not just the issue

Did you bond over the Swans in the Parliament House lobby? Write it down. It’s an easy way to pick the conversation back up next time you meet, and it signals you see them as a person, not just a gatekeeper.

Being consistently pleasant, mindful and useful is most of what it takes to build a relationship of trust with a staffer — and it compounds faster than most advocates expect.

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