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Canvassing Tips and Techniques
Canvassing Conversation Tips
We don’t believe in using a script so much as we believe in employing a technique. It’s impossible to write a script when we’re attempting to enter into a 3–5 minute discussion with someone. If we’re concerned with following a given script, then we won’t be as effective in creating a meaningful conversation.
There is really very little that can be scripted beyond your introduction. This is due to the fact that the remainder of your dialog should be fluid, and based on the person you are canvassing and their concerns.
Approaching The House
When you approach the house that you’re going to canvass, take a fast look around. Determine where you’re going to stand after you’ve knocked on the door. Remember, we are effectively “invading the space” of someone else’s home, and we want to leave them as much of their own space as possible.
After you knock on the door, take a few steps back. If it’s possible, even move down a step or two. It is very effective to have one foot on a higher step, and one foot on a lower step.
This approach serves a couple of purposes. Most importantly, it gives the person whose house you’re canvassing his/her own personal space — it creates more of a margin for their comfort. At the same time, you have created space that you can hopefully draw the other person into.
As you draw the other person into this open space, you are giving them the feeling of control, while you also effectively lower the barriers to communication. If you manage to be a step or two below the other person, this also allows them to feel psychologically more in control of the situation.
Your Introduction
In the end, you’ll have to find the words that work best for you. If you simply recite a given script, it’s going to sound canned and insincere. What we have written as an introduction should be thought of as elements to include in your own introduction.
Start by introducing yourself, and very briefly explaining the purpose of your visit. Immediately go into a question that will elicit a response from the other person. As an example:
“Hi, I’m ______, a neighbor on ________Street. I know it’s really early in the process, but I and others are out here to give everybody the opportunity to learn about different presidential candidates so when it’s time to vote you’re well informed. Today we’re here to talk to you about one of the candidates, and the one I want to talk about today is Barack Obama. Are you familiar with him, his background and his positions?”
With this type of approach, you’re engaging the other person in a conversation. You are giving them the opportunity to express their opinion, and you’re creating the way to achieve your purpose through a heart-to-heart conversation.
Follow–up To Their Response
Ask them, “What do you think are the most important qualities you want to see in a presidential candidate?” Or, “What do you think are the most important and critical issues facing us in the US today?”
Once they’ve told you their opinion, let them know that their opinion is important and valid. Agree with them as to the importance of the issue they’ve presented to you.
At this point, you’ve furthered the conversation while giving yourself a little bit more information from the other person as to the best way to approach your objective. Now is the time to get into the meat of your visit.
As an example:
“I can tell you’ve put some thought into this.” Defuse any potential defensiveness by furthering the conversation with another question, such as:
“What do you think the next President should do to resolve these issues?”
By asking such questions, you are able to understand where the other person is coming from, and you’ll be in a much better position to make your presentation. You’ll be able to keep them engaged in a two-way conversation while entering into the body of your presentation.
Presenting Obama, His Philosophy and His Positions
This is where you’ll be able to start introducing the other person to Barack Obama, and demonstrate that both you and Obama agree with what this person has been saying. This is also where you can create the opportunity to move the discussion from you agreeing with them, to them agreeing with Barack Obama.
There are two aspects to this part of the presentation — one is verbal and the other is a physical offering of literature. The two work together as you begin to introduce Barack Obama and what he’s doing to resolve the issue(s) identified by the other person.
(For the purposes of this canvassing event, we’ve created a two-sided flier that lists the 12 issues identified on the BarackObama.com website. The issues are presented in alphabetical order to make it easier for you to quickly point out the appropriate section.)
“This is what Senator Obama says about ___________” (the issue that is most important to them).
At the same time you say something like this, start handing them the literature, while pointing to the issue that has been addressed by the other person. In offering the flier to the other person, allow them to come to you — allow them to close up the space between you that you’ve previously created. In so doing, you’ll be drawing the person further into the conversation, as opposed to forcing the conversation upon them.
As you offer them the flier, don’t start talking about Senator Obama’s position, but ask them another question:
“Are you familiar with Senator Obama’s position on this issue?”, or, “What do you think of Senator Obama's position on this issue?”
If the person is familiar with Obama and his positions, you’re in a better position to understand how to effectively close your presentation. If the person you’re talking with is not familiar with Obama, then you should round out the body of your presentation accordingly.
Base Your Presentation On The Person You’re Talking With
In the section Dealing With Different People and Opinions, we briefly mentioned some of the different types of people that you’re likely to encounter while canvassing. The basis of your presentation and conversation should take those factors into account.
Rounding Out Your Presentation
Based upon the type of person you’ve identified (as previously summarized), you’ll now want to round out your presentation and move toward your closing.
The most important part is to be polite, and to actively keep the other person engaged in a two–way conversation. At the same time you’re keeping them actively engaged, you should focus on why you support Barack Obama, and how Senator Obama also shares the concerns/issues of the other person. Indeed, this is why you’re also supporting Obama.
While never saying anything negative about the other candidates, use this as an opportunity to emphasize why Obama is different from the other candidates.
As you close out the body of your presentation, remind people that what makes Obama truly different from the other candidates is that he (Obama) is asking others to take personal responsibility for changing our great nation. Only in this way, can we hold our elected representatives accountable to make the changes we are all in agreement with.
This method of bringing the personal responsibility factor into play can also be accomplished through questions to the person you're canvassing, such as, “What do you think is the biggest problem in having your concerns addressed and resolved?”
Through active listening, you can guide the discussion with your own questions. After listening to the response of the other person, you can find the common ground of agreement, and put forth your own statements regarding these matters.
In this way, you’ve created a meaningful two-way dialog that allows both parties to be heard. You’re able to listen to their concerns while you’re also able to present what you think could be done to change the situation.
As a community organizer, Barack Obama very much knows the power of bringing others into the political process. The whole idea is to empower people to take charge of their own political destiny. This is what Obama’s campaign is all about. This whole process is accomplished through dialog and finding common agreements.