The battle shifts constantly. You marshal your allies. Threats arise, and, if you’re very skillful, you checkmate them in a few deft moves.

Like chess, there are rules that can help you play better and, in fact, win. We’ve developed 10 “Rules of the Road” meant to give you an edge in waging a successful issues campaign. They cover just about every aspect of issues management—from picking your fight and gathering allies to reading the defense and speaking to the heart as well as the head.

We developed our rules over 25 years of work in the public affairs trenches—ensuring our clients get a fair hearing in the court of public opinion so that their message comes through despite all the noise and furor.

We believe our rules will help you not only defend your reputation but also create an environment that will make it easier to build constituents—and customers—in an increasingly contentious climate.

We hope you find these 10 “Rules of the Road” useful in creating and executing a successful issues management program. If you need help, that’s why we’re here. Please contact us, and we’ll show you exactly what we can do—together—to develop your winning strategy.