This handbook is about writing policy positions and assumes that you have already done the necessary research and have worked with board members, and other stakeholders to formulate a position. This will be an iterative process in which you start with an analysis from your research. Then staff or a working group draft a position. This is then tested and refined through consultation – perhaps through surveys, meetings, workshops – with your members. It is important that the final position is shared by the majority of your members since otherwise, they will undermine you when you start to advocate the position to the government.

Further reading

• The Secret Language of Leadership: How Leaders Inspire Action Through Narrative link to Amazon


• Log onto businessadvocacy.net for links to websites and exemplars of policy position papers