The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa (ACLU) provides a handy resource on how to craft an ask to your legislator, utilizing a five-point approach:
- Introduce yourself
- A personal story about your issue
- Why you care
- Why the legislator should care
- The ask
This formula could be adapted to other types of requests — of a boss, a colleague, or anyone you are trying to persuade. Set the context of why the ask is important, and most importantly, call for a specific action. It sounds simple, but too often we start with the request without sharing the story behind it. Rely on all five fingers to more effectively make your point and create the change you seek.
