If you want a real shot at running for office, following these 11 rules for campaign success could get you there.
The rules come from Jeff Smith's "Campaign Management Boot Camp" at The New School, where he is an assistant professor of Politics and Advocacy.
But he's not only an academic.
Smith served in the Missouri Senate from 2006-2009 as the nation’s only white state senator from a majority-black district. He later ran for the congressional seat vacated by Dick Gephardt in 2004, losing a close race to Rep. Russ Carnahan.
That campaign was the subject of a critically-acclaimed documentary "Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore?"
Here, Smith tells us his 11 steps to running a successful campaign.
Let staffers take risks, and don't ever apologize.
Instead of staffers waiting for someone to tell them what to do, Smith says they should be allowed to be bold and creative. "Don't ask for permission. Don't even ask for forgiveness," he says.
One example he offered, is if a junior staffer starts calling every labor union leader in the state for support — when they would expect a call directly from the candidate.
Instead of the campaign manager scolding them, they should say, "Don't ever call that guy again, but I like the way you're being aggressive out there."
Don’t hire anyone with too much experience. Hire smart, creative people.
If you’re looking to do something that hasn’t been done before, extensive experience on the campaign trail can be a negative, according to Smith.
Instead, campaigns should opt for newcomers that can bring fresh thinking into a race.
"Karl Rove was the most experienced guy in American politics and he didn't even know when his guy lost. Having done something before can help you, but it can constrain you in the future."
The best motivation is the possibility of a dream job.
Those bold thinkers you've hired as staff, volunteers, or interns need room to grow, so Smith advises giving them an opportunity to lead — and float the possibility of a full-time position.
They can write a direct mail piece, a fundraising letter, or an ad script – "you’ll be surprised how often they do it better than the pros," he says.
And he offers some bold leadership advice:
"Don't ever ask a member of your staff to do something that you wouldn't do yourself," Smith says. "Yet most campaign managers do just that."
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