​To be successful as a woman candidate

To be successful as a woman candidate, you should:
  • Keep in mind, you are the final decision maker but you must let other people actively participate and help you accomplish your goals. Learn to delegate.
  • Reach out to those that have gone through the process before.  They will have hands-on, lived experience to share with you.
  • Always take care of yourself.
  • Considering appointing a person to stand in your place when you are unavailable.
  • Buy a comfortable pair of shoes ; face to face communication is essential.
  • Ensure you are prepared for the unexpected.
  • Present yourself to the public (background information, your education, your professional experiences, your values, your family and your interests).
  • Do not get discouraged when aspects of your campaign or personnel become challenging.
  • Be sure to balance your responsibilities properly and do not let your campaign remove you from aspects of your personal life (like family/work/hobbies).
  • Focus on strategies that work best for you financially and time wise.
  • Allocate team resources and expenses effectively.
  • Identify where your voters are located.
  • When canvassing have one person talking and one person taking notes (be sure to go in twos) that can then be relayed back to the rest of the team.
  • Answer all forms of communication that you receive (mail/email/telephone/social media). This can be done by your team.
  • Understand your party’s platform and the issues at hand in your riding.
  • Don’t make promises that you are unsure of your ability to accomplish.
  • Ensure that your messages to the riding are in line with your party’s policies.  
  • Make sure you have a team that you trust and are working with you to see you succeed.
  • Realistically determine the hours that you can dedicate to your campaign each week.
  • Map out a time frame for your campaign and create a work plan with time management tools.
  • Even if you do not win, do not give up your political career. You have built your political foundation and may succeed in the future if you continue to pursue politics.
  • Take time to celebrate either a win or loss – both are a success – your participation and initiative is what you are celebrating.