Most Important Skills For An Advocate At A Policy Advocacy Nonprofit
Lindsey, an advocate, attorney, and swim coach at a policy advocacy nonprofit, emphasizes that "listening with their whole body, their eyes, even their hearts" is paramount to success in their role. This active listening skill allows them to synthesize information from diverse sources, formulating proposals for moving the organization forward.
Communication, Problem-Solving, Active Listening, Report Writing, Strategic Thinking
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Lindsey Kirchhoff
Advocate, Attorney, and Swim Coach
Policy Advocacy Nonprofit
US Air Force Academy
Boston College, Master of Arts in Philosophy; Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, Juris Doctor; Pepperdine Law Straus Institute, Master of Dispute Resolution
Anthropology, Sociology
Law
Operations and Project Management
Veteran, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. Active listening skills are crucial for understanding stakeholders and building rapport.
2. Analytical skills are needed to process information and create actionable proposals.
3. Excellent communication skills are essential for conveying ideas effectively through reports and emails to various parties involved.
Transcript
What skills are most important for a job like yours?
In my role, and in general, listening is very important. It's not just listening with our ears, but with our whole body, our eyes, and even our hearts. People can tell when you are truly listening to them and when you are not.
For example, if I am fiddling on my phone while talking to you, you won't feel important. But if I put all my energy and intention into speaking with you, it feels very different. So, in my role, the most important thing is being able to listen well.
Then, from the information I get from board members, potential donors, and other organizations like ours, I put those things together to think about how we can move forward. I then formulate a report or an email to send to various people on the board, proposing how we can move forward with that new information.