How to run the European Parliament by Mariyln Political
This concise 93 page pamphlet book is well worth reading. It will take you an hour. It is full of useful gems.
It’s a practical how to get ahead as a MEP guidebook. The firm behind it, http://www.marilynpolitical.com/, have packed a lot of useful information in.
Even if you don’t want to be a MEP, it’s useful to read to better understand how successful MEPs work. I was lucky to work for two good British Labour MEPs in my late 20s. On every page, I came across passages that resonated with me.
10 things I liked
Everybody who reads this book will come away with different key insights. Here is my top 10:
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- Showing expertise. Show this by producing free newsletters and briefing notes.
- Answer emails from constituents within 24 hours.
- Fight for your vision, but avoid wars you cannot win.
- Be faster than everyone else. Be the 1st to present and push for compromises. Steer the debate.
- Don’t leave any votes to chance.
- Regularly lay down short and long-term media action plans.
- The news interviews boil down to 10 second sound bites.
- Hire good people or better people who know more than you.
- Don’t forget back home
- Get re-elected – get top on your Party’s list – your constituents won’t vote for your work in Brussels.