Metaphors like the chaos of a dense jungle or the search for light at the end of a dark tunnel are often used to describe how overwhelmed Members and staff feel at the onset of their first term.

We get it, there is a lot to juggle—everything from learning to navigate the tunnels beneath the Capitol to forging political allies and learning how to communicate well with constituents.

In an effort to provide stability and support along this treacherous path, the Congressional Management Foundation recently convened an audience of experts and first-term staffers for a mid-year check-in.

Key Takeaways

Maintain Vision—"Great leaders don't tell people what to do, they tell you who you are," said CMF President & CEO Bradford Fitch. Members have the responsibility to establish the mission and vision for the office staff. To bring a well-packaged set of accomplishments to the voters, Members need to focus on priorities. They need to rise above the riff raff of everyday political procedure and focus on achieving the goals that will create a legacy. After all, goals are just dreams with deadlines. For goals to be effective in the congressional context, they need to be specific and measurable, the type of statements that answer the question "to what end?" Second, to ensure that these goals are in the Members' best interest, they must be inspiring, and communicate something worthy of constituents' respect.

Keep It Local—Freshman Members need to be acutely in tune with their local offices. As Scott Rauch, Legislative Director for Rep. Alex Mooney, remarked, "The district office is a pipeline to the people and their insight should be used to inform decision-making." When the Washington office doesn't appreciate the insight a district office can provide the Member and staff are less effective. Rauch encouraged the DC-based staff to touch base with the appropriate district counterpart on a regular basis.

Communicate—If Members are to be successful, constituents need to feel like their voices are heard. This doesn't mean that a Member needs to agree with or conform to positions that constituents are urging them to take – rather, it's about making constituents feel valued and heard. How can offices accomplish this? Try picking up the phone! Giving staffers the authority to follow up with constituents by simply calling them back cuts down on the time-wasting oversight that often accompanies the process of delivering written responses. Prioritizing casework is another excellent way to make constituents feel heard. As Sen. Marco Rubio, CMF's Democracy Award winner for Constituent Service in 2019 stated, "Casework isn't about processing paper, it's about helping people." As one would expect, when constituents feel like their voices are heard they are more likely to believe in the leadership of their representative and the institution of Congress.

Most importantly, first-term offices must not lose hope. Rhonda Foxx, Chief of Staff for Rep. Alma Adams summarized, "Realize that you're not alone, even though the first six months feel like you're in a life boat just trying to stay afloat. Realize that the offices to your left and right are as discombobulated as yours might feel."

While there is a steamship just downstream where the life rafts can be abandoned in exchange for a more stable craft, for now, keep sailing along, heeding the sage advice of the mariners who set sail before you.