Coalitions can multiply your influence … or drain your time. The difference comes down to who’s in the room.
If you’re serious about advancing policy, you’re going to need allies. But not just any allies … the right allies. Coalitions can amplify your voice, extend your reach, and unlock access you don’t have on your own. They can also slow you down, dilute your message, and eat up your time if you’re not careful. So how do you know who belongs in your coalition?
Here’s what to look for:
- Shared self-interest. You don’t need clones. In fact, diversity in background and membership can be an asset. But your allies must have a meaningful stake in the outcome. If they’re at the table just to “be in the room where it happens,” they’re not going to fight when it matters.
- Execution capacity. It’s not enough to agree with the goal. Your partners need to have the bandwidth and skills to move the ball. That means they show up, follow through, and can activate their networks (networks you can’t mobilize) when the pressure’s on.
- Credibility where it counts. Some organizations have a strong message. Others have strong relationships. You need both. An ally with real influence — whether with legislators, agency heads, grassroots, or media — is worth ten who simply sign letters.
- Message discipline. If everyone’s running in different directions, your effort will stall. Choose partners who can stay focused and avoid mission creep. Mission creep destroys many a coalition.
- Tolerance for difference. Most strong coalitions include organizations that don’t agree on everything. That’s okay … as long as they agree on this issue and commit to moving it forward together. It is common to agree on the top-level goal and quibble over the details. (We’ll tackle managing ideological tension in the next post.)
At BridgePSG, our team has more than a decade of experience leading coalitions across South Carolina. From guiding regional and state-wide coalitions of chambers of commerce to building new coalitions with diverse groups, we’ve helped groups come together, stay focused, and push critical legislation across the finish line.
Takeaway:
A good ally doesn’t just share your position. They add power to your cause. If you’re ready to build a coalition that actually gets things done, BridgePSG can help you find the right partners and lead with clarity.