Republican Tea Parties are a good idea! Or are they?
Since last year’s election, the Republican Party has been in disarray. So, how can they get back together? Rally around an idea or cause! Sure! How about taxes? Sounds good, and let’s make it Patriotic.
The reality is that these Teas Parties look good to Republicans and they are backed by many Republican celebrities. The base is rallied and the people are moving. They are getting press and are acting in unison and it looks like a real grassroots movement.
The truth is that it’s a disaster for them! It is misguided, a waste of time and resources, and is moving the party backwards. Why? “We’re mad and we’re not gonna take it anymore” is a negative message. The people look angry and they look like oddballs. This is actually hurting the image of the movement. This will only rally the base and NO one else. If it only rallies the base then it’s no good!
In addition, anger rarely attracts people! So, those who have moved to the Obama camp are unlikely to come back. Any people, who are on the fence, will not be attracted to the negative message either. Also, once the base is riled up they will naturally begin to spew more negative vitriol and continue to alienate the deserters and fence-sitters.
How have the Republicans engineered comebacks in the past 30 years? Only one way - with positive messages! When Reagan took office, it was “Morning in America”. When Newt Gingrich and his crew took over the Congress they had a “Contract with America.” Even when the last Bush took over the White House he was a “Compassionate Conservative” and a “Uniter, not a Divider.” These positive messages draw people in. These can bring back deserters or fence-sitters as it did in all the above situations.
Shame on the Republican leadership (to include the pundits who make their living supporting them) for letting this negative message out just to gain more personal visibility and to solidify their personal supporters for their pet projects and media programs, at the expense of the party. Without question, all the “Hosts” of the Tea Parties will do well from the publicity, but the movement will go nowhere. Republicans should be worried. Democrats should encourage the “tea-baggers” to keep it up.
So, why does this matter in your everyday life? Because when you are around people that you want to rally, you may think that a common enemy is all you need. While a common enemy is a good idea, you MUST add a positive message with it if you want to draw others in. This applies to business and personal life.
Sales Event:
“Look, your competition is beating you up in the market! Aren’t you tired of losing to them? Let’s get ‘em.” - Fair
“Look, your competition is beating you up in the market! Aren’t you tired of losing to them? Let’s set up a program that will make you number one and then everyone will be looking at you as the industry leader.” - Much better
Office Politics:
“This new lunch policy is terrible. This is just another way that ‘the man’ is taking away our time. Don’t you think we should let him know that he needs to make some changes?” – Mediocre at best
“This new lunch policy is terrible. This is just another way that ‘the man’ is taking away our time. Don’t you think we should let him know that this de-motivates us and that with a different policy we would be both happier and more productive?” - Better
In each case, starting with creating a common enemy is an effective way to get your target’s attention and maybe even establish a bit of commonality and rapport. But if you follow this with a negative message, you run the risk of NO ACTION or even isolation. Therein lays the problem. To be effective you must inspire action. Positive messages are FAR more likely to inspire action, especially if you want a large group of people to act. This is particularly true if you want them to maintain continued support during a long and/or arduous time.
Just keep in mind, that starting with a negative, “Let’s get them - common enemy” idea is often effective, BUT YOU MUST immediately follow with a positive “Look what good we can do” message if you want anyone to truly “Stand” for something.
The Tea Party people aren’t standing for anything. Therefore, no one who isn’t already in their club will join them and accordingly, soon the Tea Partiers themselves will sit back down too.
Bottom-line: Don’t let your team sit down. Give them something positive to stand for.
Good luck!
Larry
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