Ways Utah business owners can have their voices heard by officials
With so many concerns and issues taking precedence right now – from the pandemic response to political protests against inequality to the usual madness of the election year – legislators from city, county and national government are being scrutinized by their constituents to provide answers, and maybe even laws, that can affect people in positive ways.
What may be a challenge is the task of being an influencer for the issues that are important to you. Not every government entity is easy to access for small business owners or the average citizen.
Utah Business recently published a story that goes into the details on how to get more involved in government influence, written by a pair of governmental affairs experts from the Utah company Holland and Hart.
It’s also important for business owners to find ways to save time that can be dedicated to things like more activism. To that end, First Utah Bank offers online banking that is accessible 24/7 from a recently upgraded web portal.
Place is important when it comes to affecting issues
The first step the article outlines is doing some research on your own to find the right person or place to bring up your concern. City governments are best for neighborhood issues such as roadwork or when parks are in disrepair. School boards or state government wold be the place to talk about concerns like school safety or teaching.
Immigration policies are best addressed by your congresspeople in the federal government that represent Utah. State law can be talked about by state legislators.
Finding who to speak to is where the internet will come in handy. Finding and bookmarking the different government entities that might affect you is a great idea. Even if they can’t help you, they can recommend others who can.
The article points out that legislators do want to hear from their constituents on issues. “They want your input and feedback on the major topics that are being addressed,” the authors write. “They’ll make a better decision because you took the time to share your thoughts with them. You don’t have to become a full-time activist to get involved—just find a way to have your voice heard.”
What to say to get your point across
Once you know where your message should go, the next step is crafting that message in a way that will make it easier to hear. It goes beyond just signing a petition or sending a form e-mail. Personalization is important to leaders who want to know that the work they are doing is truly affecting someone specifically.
Going to meetings of the governmental body is a good first step. The article suggests that you attend “prepared to listen to other ideas and points of view and consider combining your efforts with other groups to find a workable outcome.” It also points out that elected officials often are robust on social media platforms and may even have discussions with you in that context.
Among the tips the article gives is to be transparent about your goals and go through the right procedures to get your voice heard. Being to-the-point without being snide or disparaging about different viewpoints is the best way to engage with a government leader.
It’s also important to do the research needed to bring credibility to what you say. Finding the how and why behind the argument and being able to articulate that – with notes as backup – will work wonders. You can also get some help with that research, or support in general, by getting friends, neighbors or fellow business owners involved.
Finally, it’s important to note that government officials have busy lives just like yours, maybe even more challenging in fact. To that end, call or email bombing won’t get a response any faster. This changes somewhat when it is a leader directly in the district in which you live, but in general be prepared to present your case and hope for the best when it comes to an actual response. Patience is virtuous in this case.
Online banking options help Salt Lake City businesses save time
Of course, it’s always a challenge to find the time to do activism or even to contact someone in power in order to have your voice heard. Savvy business owners would be wise to try and find efficiencies in the way they run their business. First Utah Bank can help in this regard by making it easy and convenient to keep your business banking running smoothly.
First Utah Bank has a website that features a simple login for Internet Banking. If you are part of our Treasury Management program, you also can use the online portal to access your services any time of the day or night. It’s all underpinned by high levels of security even though the login process is streamlined.
Whether it’s a remote deposit you are needing to make or if you want to check on any type of financial status with an app from your phone, we can provide that easy access. To learn more about what we have to offer, go to our website or call First Utah Bank at 801-308-2265.