How to Set Up a Campaign Team

Whether you are a first timer wanting to get involved in student government or a career politician making a run for Senator, chances are you know that one person doesn't win an election. To better your chances of getting elected, you'll need a well organized team with a cohesive goal on your side.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Establishing Your Team Message and Vision

1
Create a clear message. While there may be dozens of issues you are concerned with, you'll need to boil down your approach and focus to as succinct and clear a message as possible. By doing this, you'll not only establish a "Brand" for voters, but you'll also help your team to maintain focus and keep its goals clear.
- The more invested a team is in maintaining your message, the more engaged they will be.^{[1]XResearch source}
- The more engaged a team is, the better your results will be.^{[2]XResearch source}
2
Focus on transparency and accountability. Your team will need to be open and honest with each other if you are to succeed. Trust is essential for communication and success.^{[3]XResearch source} You won't succeed if the proverbial left hand does not know what the right hand is doing.
- Lead by example, and always take responsibility for your mistakes.
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3
Establish the chain of command. Obviously, you will be the ultimate authority in your campaign. Even so, you should work to earn the respect of your team rather than take it for granted. You'll also want to establish clear chains of command. Usually your second-in-command will be your campaign manager.
- Make sure that your chain of command is clear. Every person should understand the role that they play in your campaign, and who they report to.
- Be authoritative, not authoritarian.
It is easy to lose track of your message and goals as stress piles up. It is essential to stay on message.^{[4]XResearch source} Not only is this necessary to appeal to voters, but it is also necessary to keep the team's vision clear. Keep the team engaged and on-message, and success will follow.^{[5]XResearch source}
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Finding Roles for a Small Campaign

1
Find your campaign manager. Your first task should be to find your right-hand man (or woman). Even if you are running for student government or a small municipal position and fulfilling most of the roles of a campaign manager yourself, you should designate a someone who has the authority to handle situations and make decisions in your absence.^{[6]XResearch source}
- This should be someone who you both trust and share mutual respect with.
- Your campaign manager should have the same goals as you, but they should also be willing to speak their mind and even stand up to you if necessary.
- Your campaign manager should be a fair leader that your other staff respect, and must have a complete understanding of your team's goals and vision.
- Unless otherwise specified, all of your additional campaign staff should report to your campaign manager in your absence.
2
Recruit a reliable treasurer. Even the smallest campaign will have expenses. Someone who is good at tracking and saving money will be invaluable. If possible, a financially responsible person should be put in charge of fundraising and authorizing expenditures.
- Someone who always has a knack for finding a good deal or talking their way into a bargain is a good choice.
- Saving a little on simple expenses like signs and flyers can go a long way!
- This is a great role for a person who wants to help, but isn't necessarily the best "people person".
3
Designate an engaging event coordinator. You'll want to find someone with good organizational and networking skills. If you want to plan a rally, or a town hall discussion, or a community event you'll need someone with a knack for planning and getting other people on board. Your event coordinator should work closely with your campaign manager.
- For example, a good candidate might be a responsible person who always manages to throw the best parties.
- They need both passion and flexibility.^{[7]XResearch source}
4
Find a volunteer coordinator. When your campaign takes off you might find that other people want to get involved as additional volunteers. Volunteers can raise money, spread awareness, and take care of necessary campaign tasks. But to keep them all on the same page and moving in the same direction you'll need a volunteer coordinator.
- Again, you'll want someone with good organizational and networking skills.
- Your volunteer coordinator must have a clear understanding of the campaign message and vision. Not only will they need to know it, but they'll be responsible for imparting it upon others!
- Patience and the ability to motivate other people are also extremely valuable skills for volunteer coordinators.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Building a Team for a Major Race

1
Hire your campaign manager. A campaign manager will understand and help you develop policy. They must have strong organization skills, work well under pressure and be willing to say "no" to people, including you.^{[8]XResearch source} In many political races, the campaign manager may actually be a professional with a track record successfully managing candidates and campaigns.
- If hiring an outside campaign manager it isn't necessary for them to completely agree with your platform. It helps if they do though.
- You have to have absolute trust and completely open communication with your campaign manager.
- Your campaign manager should be a fair leader that your other staff respect, and must have a complete understanding of your team's goals and vision.
- When in doubt, every other role should report to your campaign manager.
2
Find a reliable treasurer. Large campaigns are as much economic operations as they are political ones. You need someone to track your campaign's income and expenses. An experienced accountant is a must-have. They'll need to be well organized and capable of keeping excellent records as well.
- Since your campaign is bigger, your treasurer will not also be responsible for fundraising.
- You may have a legal obligation to maintain highly detailed, accurate, and transparent records - make sure the person keeping them is qualified!
- Your treasurer won't be as integrated with the rest of the team, but they'll probably work closely with your fundraising coordinator and event coordinator. Make sure that the trio have a strong working relationship.
3
Choose a fundraising coordinator. You'll want to have a person specifically designated with fundraising responsibilities. They'll handle phone drives, solicitations, and a host of other fundraising mediums. They'll report revenue to your treasurer and also network with your event coordinator to organize fundraising activities. They need to be highly organized and outgoing.^{[9]XResearch source}
- This individual should be a go-getter who isn't afraid to ask for favors or take initiative. No wallflowers here!
4
Hire your event coordinator. This is the person who will plan your rallies, handle logistics for your events, and keep all of your vendors and local contractors in line. They'll likely work especially closely with your Fundraising Coordinator and your Treasurer.
- You'll want this person to work well with others, but also be a strong-willed and goal driven.^{[10]XResearch source}
- You want someone who is both passionate and flexible.^{[11]XResearch source}
5
Select a legal advisor. You'll need at least one legal advisor, if not an entire legal team. You'll need to understand and adapt to various election laws, especially if you are in a national race that may involve multiple jurisdictions.^{[12]XResearch source}
- Your legal advisor will rarely work closely with other staff besides your campaign manager. A no-frills person that gets the job done thoroughly is best for this role.
- Your legal advisor will often be outside hired counsel.
6
Hire an advertising director. For most large campaigns you'll be doing far more than sending out mailers and putting up posters. You'll need advertising buys on radio and even television. Your advertising director should work closely with your treasurer as well as your polling and public relations team.
- Your advertising director must have a crystal-clear understanding of your campaign message. They're responsible for getting the message out to all of your voters!
- Your advertising director should report directly to you and your campaign manager for final approval before any ad is aired or posted.
7
Find your campaign's polling and public relations advisor. Especially with large campaigns, you'll need to keep a finger on the pulse of the electorate. Having a skilled Polling and PR Advisor can help. This person will keep an eye on which way the proverbial wind is blowing and help you to tailor a creative message accordingly.
- A "people person" who is also good with analytics is often a good fit for this role.
- It is often good for a pollster to be less affiliated with the day-to-day of a campaign. You want accurate data that is free of bias to operate and make strategic decisions off of.
8
Choose a media relations team and a press secretary. As your campaign draws publicity, you'll need someone to be the public face and voice of the campaign when you can't be. You'll want a Media Relations team who understands the message.^{[13]XResearch source} Those actively involved with the media should be good with other people and not prone to gaffes.
- Staying on message is crucial. You want quick thinkers who are good on their feet but won't improvise or freelance.
- Charisma counts.^{[14]XResearch source} A likeable Press Secretary and Media Relations team give your campaign a good face.
9
Select your campaign's volunteer coordinator. As your campaign moves from place to place you'll find all sorts of new volunteers. Grassroots volunteers are the lifeblood of a campaign, but they'll need skilled leadership. Your Volunteer Coordinator will keep them all on the same page and moving in the same direction.
- Again, you'll want someone with good organizational and networking skills.
- Your volunteer coordinator must have a clear understanding of the campaign message and vision. Not only will they need to know it, but they'll be responsible for imparting it upon others!
- Patience and the ability to motivate other people are also extremely valuable skills for volunteer coordinators.
10
Hire your personal assistant. With so much going on, you are going to need some personal help. A good personal assistant can keep you apprised of scheduling changes, make sure you get to eat and sleep, and screen your calls. Getting along well is crucial for this role.
- Your personal assistant should be willing to be strong and get what they need from other people, but defer to you.
- An empathetic person that understands your needs is a good pick for a personal assistant.
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Community Q&A

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Question
Roughly how many posters should you have?
Community Answer
This will vary greatly based on a number of factors. How many people are you trying to reach? Where is your target audience located? What is your advertising budget? Your campaign manager, agent, and advertising coordinator should be able to answer these questions and come up with the right number of posters for your campaign.
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Tips

Always be polite with your staff, both paid and volunteer. You rely on them.
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Show gratitude and appreciation after the race, even if you lose.
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Keep lines of communication open. Everyone needs to be on the same page.
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