Damien has posted a list of resources for when politicians call, here’s my more general contribution. I’ve had this in draft for months as three basic lessons in one post, but this is the only section that’s complete. I’ll try and tie up the other two later today.

All this is basic stuff, but if you’re anything like me you probably either clam up or get angry when the doorbell rings, and you shouldn’t. They want something from you, but they shouldn’t get it for free. Make them sing for their suppers.

You’ll be needing a notebook and a pen for this. Yes, actual paper. Go on, I’ll wait here.

Lesson One: Be Prepared

1. First, jot down the things that are important to you. Health, tech, sports, money, the lot.
2. Number them in order of importance, then scratch out or delete all but the top five or six.
3. Think about how they can be improved. More money or less money? More freedom or more restriction?
4. Reformat your thoughts in politician mode: think “nothing is free”; think “compromise”, “deal”, “negotiate”.
5. Reformat them again, in Jeopardy mode: “Your answer must be in the form of a question.”
6. On a fresh page, write down the final set of questions; still in order of importance.
7. Tear off the pages with scratch work on them, and put the notebook and pen by your door.
8. Now get yourself a beverage and a biscuit, that’s half the battle done.