How to Enhance Your Career (and Life) Through the League of Women Voters

Participation in the basic processes of the League of Women Voters can improve your speaking ability, your negotiation skills and your ability to see more than one side of an issue. All these abilities can improve your self confidence and improve your personal and business life.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Membership and participation in the League of Women Voters

1. Taking part in the League' s processes could include being a speaker on a Pros and Cons presentation. To do this, members study and learn the reasons why people support both sides of the ballot measure on which people will be voting. Then, they speak to local organizations, such as Rotary, the chamber of commerce and at neighborhood coffees. By being called on to present both sides at one time or another, the person learns to see both sides of an issue.

2. Participation in the study of an issue and reaching consensus on the solution is a learning process. Beyond that, the consensus process, which is not a matter of vote taking but of having a meeting of minds, requires that those involved listen to other opinions and attempt to bridge, or at least see a bridge between varying views. The ability to do this can enhance negotiating and conflict resolution skills, skills useful throughout our lives.

3. Moderating candidate forums for the League of Women Voters requires diplomacy and negotiation skills as well as the need to be evenhanded and fair to every participant. Thinking on your feet is also necessary. Representing the organization in a professional and calm manner is necessary. Any ideas where else these skills come in handy?

4. Taking action on behalf of the League in support of a position the League has requires the ability to express that point of view clearly, succinctly and calmly. Sometimes this is done directly to an office holder, while at other times it is done on the phone, or in a letter, fax or email. The person who does this learns how to say what they want in a knowledgeable and intelligent way, that is, without taking personal swipes at other people or without letting personal emotions overtake logical thinking.

5. Remember, these are the skills you can develop by working with the League of Women Voters: the ability to think on your feet, to speak clearly and confidently in public, to see varying sides of an issue, to negotiate between varying views, to be objective and fair minded.
   All of this while participating in your government and becoming a more informed citizen!

Tips & Warnings

• The League never supports candidates.
• The League takes positions on issues after members have studied and reached consensus on the issue.
• The League takes action to make their positions become part of the law. This is done through lobbying and education.
• Men can be members of the League of Women Voters.