Justin Klander and Jason Fossum, Minnesota State Senate

2.  Developing the relationship
◦ Getting off on the right foot
◦ Being and maintaining professionalism
 Handling difficult situations
◦ Focus on the facts and do your homework
◦ Control your emotions
 Seek win-win solutions when possible
◦ Understand the other side
◦ Create your plan
◦ Eye on the prize

3.  Getting off on the right foot:
◦ Meet with administrators early in your term
 Informal meetings/Meet and Greets
 Begin to build trust and communication
 Figure out who is who on campus
◦ Professional but casual
 Administrators often have varying views of
students and how to work with them.
 Being professional allows you to break down
potential walls.

5.  Dress appropriately for the situation
◦ A presidential cabinet meeting won’t be held in your
bedroom so don’t dress like it.
 Be prepared
◦ Competency earns respect.
 Do what you say you are going to do
◦ Consistent follow through builds trust.
 Respect the position even if you don’t respect the person
◦ Whether you like them or not, they have power and can
help you.
 Remember who you represent, but seek solutions
◦ Solving problems serves students better than making a
point.

6.  Inevitably there will be tension with your
campus administrators.
 How you handle these situations will be
key in your success.
 There are a few key steps to handling
any difficult issue.

7.  In order to diffuse potential fireworks,
make sure you have all the information
you need.
 If you find holes in what you know, ask
questions.
 Bring the players together to discuss the
issue, but don’t meet just to meet.
 Make sure you have the right people at
the right meetings.
 Keep the big picture in mind inside the
jungle of details.

8.  It’s easy to get caught up and react emotionally
when you care about the issues on which you
work.
 Maintaining and controlling a professional
outlook is a must for several reasons:
◦ When you get emotional, you’re more likely to
make mistakes.
◦ Emotions close lines of communication.
◦ Emotional reactions can alienate potential
allies.

9.  In the end, your job is to win victories
for your constituents (students).
 Crafting a strategy is easier when you
can map out a road to victory.
 You have to give something to get
something.
 There are a few key steps to working
toward a win-win.

10.  In order to be successful, you need to
understand your administration’s
position.
 Ask clarifying questions.
 Small misunderstandings can have huge
consequences.
 Get positions in writing so you can
reference them later.

11.  It’s always advisable to have a plan or
an idea of what you want to
accomplish.
 Map out some potential solutions and
break them down from both your
perspective and that of your
administration.
 Use your resources to determine the
best course of action.
 Finalize your plan and prepare.

12.  Be ready to change your plan as you
discuss issues with your administration.
 Stay focused on your ultimate goal and
don’t miss out on easy solutions.
 Winning for your constituents is MUCH
more important than winning for
yourself.

13.  Develop and maintain key relationships
 Let your personality carry you, don’t let
personalities ruin you.
 Seek win-win solutions and remember that
you will likely have to give something to get
something.
 Understand what consultation means and
what it doesn’t.
 Stay focused on finding solutions
 Be professional and carry yourself that way at
ALL times.