Election campaigns are back in full swing here in Norway. As a local or county politician, this is when you’re most visible to your constituents. You stand at campaign booths, go door-to-door, appear on brochures and flyers. In fact, you might even be a poster on a bus stop. If you’re not someone who loves the spotlight, a campaign is a great exercise in stepping outside your comfort zone.
The Stress of Campaigning
And then there’s the stress of running a good campaign. You feel like you have to be on top of things for months. Maybe you feel like others are slacking off and that everything depends on you. Campaigns often bring out internal tensions within parties or local chapters. You might have felt taken for granted and not appreciated. Perhaps others are being rewarded while you’re overlooked. Or maybe you don’t dare to step up and prefer to hide behind others you think are better. How do you become a courageous politician?
Finding Courage in Campaigns
The first time is always the hardest. In 2019, I was a newcomer, and when I was asked to be second on the local chapter’s list, visibility was my only concern. I love meeting people, talking to them, and hearing about their concerns. But standing at a train station handing out brochures with my face on the front was very uncomfortable. Well, we can’t save the world without a little fear.
My son once heard, “Your mom was in the mailbox.” He was only 11 at the time and didn’t care much. Today, it’s probably a bit more embarrassing when his soccer team walks around with flyers with me on the back (they get paid to distribute the flyers).
How do you feel about visibility? Do you love it? Hate it? Or do you think others are taking the attention away from you? This applies to both individuals and parties. Some people are simply better at being seen. Others find it a bit embarrassing to be a politician. This isn’t necessarily the group that always scores highest in popularity.
The Norwegian politician Abid Raja from the small liberal party is someone who has become popular and doesn’t shy away from showing his personality. He has even managed to surpass Erna Solberg in popularity. What they both have in common is that they are very approachable. But you don’t have to be as outgoing as them to succeed as a politician simply by being yourself. You won’t be for everyone, but the more you can be your authentic self, the more people you’ll attract and the more influence you’ll have in politics.
Raw and Real
Being yourself is both simple and difficult. It’s about being “raw and real,” which means being vulnerable. You have to dare to show who you are, not just what you think or what you criticize about political opponents. There’s a reason you’re in politics. And if you want to make a difference for other people in your community, it’s crucial that you have the best intentions. You probably don’t send suggestive messages to party colleagues on a cabin trip, steal sunglasses, or favor friends for high positions.
But often, it’s your difficult experiences that make you a good politician. If you’ve experienced poverty, abuse, or a difficult childhood, you know what it’s really about—more than any paperwork can tell you. To convey that, you need to show a vulnerable side of yourself.
Put Yourself Out There
In my experience, we need more politicians who not only say what they think, what’s wrong, and what the solutions are, but also local politicians who show their personal side. It’s an art to be personal without being too private. You don’t have to be in the media all the time, but you have to dare to show who you are when you meet people. You simply need to develop from a caterpillar into a butterfly to attract the attention you deserve.
Sometimes, it can simply pay off to wear a colorful jacket like I did when I met with a journalist from the local newspaper for a small photoshoot.
Finding Your Inner Visibility
As a coach, I help politicians and professionals in politics become visible in a way that reflects who they truly are. That’s when you succeed, not when you work harder than everyone else. Becoming a butterfly is a process, and we can’t do it alone! We can’t save the world alone either, and politics is a community with both your own party colleagues and colleagues from other parties. Politics is ultimately also a community with the citizens you’re here to serve.
Nevertheless, we sometimes need a community of like-minded people where we can be seen and feel safe without having to convince anyone of anything
As a political scientist and elected politician, I understand systems and processes. As a coach, I see the human in the system and help you get rid of what’s holding you back from success. When you learn to take your place, you can flourish in the community. What is your contribution, your mission, and your path?
