So you got a meeting at the White House, now what?

Landing a high-level Administration or Federal Agency meeting is no small feat. But, as we say in my family "prior proper planning" aka preparation is everything. In advising clients on how to maximize their opportunities with key political stakeholders, a few things continue to bubble up:

➡ Know your audience.

Staffers usually juggle multi-faceted issue portfolios and range from policy newcomers to seasoned subject-matter experts. Research who you're meeting with and be ready to adjust your pitch from 101-level to highly technical on the fly depending on who joins the meeting.

➡ Clarify your ask.

Want legislative support? Agency introductions? A public endorsement? Pick ONE primary objective. You'll likely get 15-30 minutes; a focused approach beats trying to solve everything at once.

➡ Be context aware.

Consider the political and legislative calendar and current priorities. Is it appropriations season? Is a Senate committee likely to have a hearing on your key issues in the coming months? Acknowledging current events and demonstrating how your ask fits into the broader agenda increases your chances of success.

➡ Bring compelling visuals.

These are smart people who appreciate well-designed materials that tell your story quickly. Ditch the text-only one-pagers for clear graphics and compelling data that they'll remember and want to share.

➡ Map the stakeholder ecosystem.

Come prepared to discuss who else cares about your issue – both supporters and potential opposition, and any mitigation work you're planning or have already done. Don't leave staff to step on political landmines that you knew were there.

➡ Plan your follow-up.

Be ready to say "yes" to requests for additional information and turn around those materials quickly. Strike while the relationship is warm, and while the staffer is still thinking about your issues and the context you gave them.

➡ Think about a communications strategy.

This meeting is a win worth sharing – whether through thought leadership, social posts, company updates, or internal recognition. A meeting is just a meeting unless you find ways to leverage it into further opportunities

At the end of the day, respect their time, be prepared to adjust on the fly, and make it easy for them to help you succeed.