Remember to talk to and be kind to all types of students, not just people who have power or are popular. [1] X Expert Source Katie StyzekProfessional School Counselor Expert Interview. 28 October 2020. Passion is infectious. Showing everyone how badly you want to win and how hard you’re willing to work for it can help your cause. Don’t: act “fake” or pushy. Do: greet people and explain your positions as though you were talking to an acquaintance.
It’s often difficult for students to express themselves especially in front of an audience. Asking your peers one-on-one might be an easier way to get authentic answers rather than sarcasm or silence. Ask yourself what you’re looking for and see if this aligns with the answers people are giving you. Better yet, give some examples to help ease conversation. You can ask whether people want an extra school dance, another vending machine, or an extra pep rally. Just remember to be realistic as the power of your position is surely limited.
Ask questions like: what is the election format? When is the election? What responsibilities does each position have? Create a checklist so that you make sure you’ve done everything required to get a nomination.
Make a budget for your posters. Posters can be costly depending on how large your school is and how involved you plan to make the poster, so make sure you calculate how much you want to spend on poster material like paint, poster board, and tape. Posters are visual but should not just show but also tell. Don’t try to fit in too much text on your posters because people will tune it out. Additionally, don’t just have a cool image without your name, what you’re running for, and why you should be elected. Check for spelling and grammar errors. Make sure people can read your posters from a distance and that the fonts you choose aren’t cluttered or illegible.
Step outside of the box. It doesn’t hurt to wait a day or two to see what your competition is doing. You want to stand out, not blend into all the noise. Try changing the shape or message of your poster to stand out from the rest. Don’t place your poster over anyone else’s as it will look petty and could get you kicked out of the race.
Make a budget. Depending on what you plan to make, costs can quickly add up. For example, creating 100 flyers will be a lot cheaper than creating 100 t-shirts. Everyone loves free stuff so sometimes it’s worth it to have a few giveaways but make sure that voters will have a positive association. There’s no use in spending money on something nobody wants or worse, spending money and not getting their vote. Be cautious if attempting to win votes this way. Effective giveaways are things that will have the dual purpose of advertising your name by being visible while being in use like t-shirts, stickers, mugs, or balloons.
Be mindful of everyone’s time. Don’t take advantage of those who are willing to help you.
Make sure everyone has access to the calendar. Either make copies, send an email, or use a shared app. You don’t want someone to miss an important deadline because they simply forgot. Color code key dates so you can prioritize and follow up with your team as each date draws near.
Don’t bombard people with unwanted messages. You can lose votes if your campaigning is seen as annoying. Get creative. Social media is meant to engage people so don’t just make this a one-way conversation. Get people talking by asking questions on sites like Facebook or Twitter. Social media sites may have special apps to help you create creative campaigns that will have your peers talking. For example, hold a Candy Crush tournament and giveaway prizes so people associate your name with very addictive apps.
Speaking to strangers can be a scary proposition, especially if you are shy or an introvert so take it at your own pace. When you speak to people, ask for clarity and empathize with their concerns. “Do you mean you want an extra school dance or to change the homecoming schedule? I completely agree that November seems a bit scattered. " Bring someone with you for support. Ask open-ended questions to break the ice like “where are you from?” Level the conversation because no one wants to be talked down to so be authentic. For example, say something like “Hi, I’m trying to run for the student election but I’m a bit shy. Thanks for chatting with me and giving me the chance to get to know as much about my peers as I can. . . ” You can also talk about topics that have nothing to do with the election to break the ice like what’s happening in pop culture. [2] X Research source Avoid targeting a specific group but tailor your message for your audience. While you can ask your teacher if you can speak to her class or approach different clubs or teams, don’t focus all your energy on a single group. For example, you don’t want to alienate the chess club by concentrating your message on the football team.
Often schools will give a time limit for speeches, so be aware of the format. Strike the right tone. Some of us are naturally funny, serious or somewhere in between. Knowing your audience will help you strike the right chord when you are writing your speech. [3] X Research source
It’s easy to lose your train of thought when in front of the audience so having something prepared will keep your focus. It’s easy to get bored when someone begins to ramble so put yourself in your audience’s shoes and eliminate any chances of delivering a boring speech. Audiences expect a path and a destination from your speech so make sure you have both by creating an outline. [4] X Research source Focus on keeping it simple and keep revising to reduce any contradictions, confusing language, or boring exposition. You want to get your core message across in the most memorable way possible. [5] X Research source
Be careful not to offend just for the sake of garnering attention.
Don’t be afraid to use pauses for emphasis. Silence can provide a dramatic spotlight to an important point. Use phrases like “What does this mean” and “Here’s the most important thing” to help drive home your points. [8] X Research source
Enlist the help of teachers, members of the debate team, or anybody comfortable with public speaking to give you tips specific to your personality. While you may not be shy, there are often subtle tricks to improving your body language and delivery. For example, standing with a straight posture and smiling portrays confidence and a friendly personality. Rehearse as much as possible in front of as many people as possible. The more practice you have and the more feedback you can get gives you the opportunity to improve and gain confidence. Don’t be afraid to use theatrics. For example, dress up like a famous tv character or use a visual metaphor like sparklers for how the school will change if you’re elected. Keep the props, storyline, and lesson simple but don’t play it safe. If you’re going to commit to this you have to commit all the way or you may come across negatively. [9] X Research source
Vary the tone of your voice to emphasize keywords. Finish strong. Whether you want to end with a bit of funny theatrics or on a serious note, make sure your ending has your audience talking well after the speech because it will be the last thing that they remember. [10] X Research source Keep it short. The attention of your audience will wane quickly. This is especially true as the size of the audience grows. [11] X Research source
Make sure you understand the voting procedures and impart that to the voters.
Staying by the polls will give that final impression to potential voters so make sure to be friendly. Being overly eager will give off an air of desperation, to keep things cordial and only answer questions if asked. Keep the atmosphere light and fun.
No matter what you do, you can’t get into the minds of your voters so don’t dwell on a loss. Be cordial in defeat and learn from your experience.
