Getting Over Call Time Anxiety

Call time — aka “dialing for dollars” — is often a candidate’s least favorite part of running a campaign. 

The despair in a candidate's eyes as it comes time to make the first call is all too common. Many go into it expecting the worst: it'll be a waste of time, people won't answer — and if they do — they'll be upset that the call is about money.

This mentality often leads to paralyzing call time anxiety. And ultimately, this can hurt your ability to run an effective campaign. 

Luckily, these five tips can help you go from feeling despaired to prepared! With just a few simple mindset changes you can go into each call time session feeling relaxed and ready to fundraise.

1. You are not your campaign
   A campaign is a temporary small business. While you are the face of the campaign, your campaign is not you. A campaign is about hope and positive change. When calling for money, remember that you are asking for a contribution for the future — a collective movement for the greater good. Separating the self from the campaign can help relieve those call time anxieties. 
   
   Approach call time as a business sales call and the donations are investments on the future of the district you are hoping to represent. You, as the CEO, are leading the movement, but you are not the whole movement. If someone does not support your campaign, do not take it personal. Not everyone likes the same businesses — some people prefer Office Depot over Staples and that's okay. There are hundreds of people to call who will gladly support your vision and contribute to the movement. 
   

2. Your friends and family will be happy to hear from you
   Have you ever randomly thought “I wonder how {name} is doing”? Well, that person has probably thought the same about you at some point in their life. While the goal of these calls are to fundraise, it is also a time to reconnect. You never know what a conversation with your co-worker from your first job at a fast-food restaurant 10 years ago can do until you make the call. 
   

3. People want to help make the world a better place — they just don't have the time
   More often than not people want to help and make a difference in their community but their jobs, families, and responsibilities take priority — while politics take the back seat. Contributing to your campaign can provide a sense of civic engagement without compromising the other things going on in their life. The key is in the approach: emphasize the impact of their contribution and focus on the larger picture of meaningful change. 
   

4. You won’t know if someone is a supporter or a donor until you ask 
   People need to know that you are running for office for them to decide if they support you or not. The hustle and bustle of American life can keep voters disengaged from learning about their local city council candidate or school board member — but that does not mean they will not engage once you reach out. 
   
   In order to get financial support from someone, they need to hear from you directly. A genuine conversation with a prospective donor can show them you care about their issues and you are the right person for the job. People also like the feeling of being included, and some of your strongest potential supporters may be offended if you do not seek their support. Again, you won’t know who is on your side until you give them a call and ask. 
   

5. Even a “no” can still be a learning experience
   Getting hung up on after introducing yourself, or making a pitch only to be shut down can be discouraging. Making 30 calls in a row and not having one person pick up can be exhausting. But it's all about mindset. Use those negative calls to perfect your pitch. Use the objections as practice to learn how to deescalate and redirect conversations and reach an understanding. Not every call will be a good call and not everyone will be friendly on the other end. But, once you’re in office, not everyone will support your policies or point of views. Use these unpleasant experiences to learn how to adapt to unfriendly situations and get comfortable hearing “no”. Listen to their reasoning and decide how much energy you wish to put into it — but always protect your sanity and peace.  

Call time anxiety can be eased if you continue to remind yourself: you are not your campaign, you have the support of your friends and family, people want to make a change, you won't know until you ask, and every phone call is a learning experience. With these five mindset changes, you can relieve that anxiety and perhaps even find a little excitement once you hear that “Hello” on the other end.

Want help with call time on your campaign? Book a FREE 15-minute consultation with us today to see how we can help!