Cup? Watching Basketball? Oh no!

Campaigns and politics are changing.

It’s the effect of a massive shift in cultural values here in America, and for what it’s worth it seems to be a pretty positive thing. In the days of old there was a uniform, professional culture that dominated politics. Dark suits, short hair, plain ties, and no humor were the norm. Corporate culture in America reflected the political environment and in some aspects the political structure magnified it.

And now due to technology speeding life up, politics is becoming a reflection of real life.

You can see it everywhere. The formal political meeting has been replaced with the wet lunch- something that was popularized in the corporate environment years ago. Formal letters are now emails. Suits and ties of all shades and patterns can be seen in the chambers, and Robert’s Rules have been injected with jokes, laughter, and an informal-yet serious nonetheless method of policymaking that wouldn’t have been dreamed of years ago.

The image of the old, crusty politician is quickly dying. The public wants a modern citizen to represent them in office.

We were doing some browsing this afternoon and came across a legislator who embodies this with his social media. We advise tons of elected officials on how to use social media to their advantage, and  Representative Nathan Ballentine has taken the advice to heart. He runs a very solid social media effort.

Many who are getting into social media use it to do the same old boring stuff: “Join me in my fight against….”, instead of using it to show something important- that they are real people too. The public demands this, and the demand is only growing.

In the past decade, scandal unlike nothing before has coupled with the informality of modern American culture. Its left the public exhausted. People now tolerate, if not expect their officials to be something like them. In some cases, small personal issues from the past have even helped candidates, whereas years ago it would have hurt them. More arguable is that people want their civic-minded leader to also have a personal life and to be somewhat open about it. People expect humanity.

Broadcasting photos of the last time you got blitzed might not be the best idea, but showing that you aren’t a robot is the direction politics is moving toward.

Institutionalized culture is gasping for air.

Take a look at Representative Ballentine’s tweets and blog. It shows he likes basketball,  likes volunteering for his kids’ little league team, and shows that he’s got a sense of humor- and, he’s even going to Carolina Cup, and maybe even having a drink or two.

Years ago, making a joke or going to an event thats popular for it’s festivities might have been frowned upon- contrary to the fully professional image. Not anymore.

Technology has brought politics into the modern era, and traditional politicians are at a disadvantage. You need not youth, but you do need flavor if you intend to compete. Statistics re-enforce this: By 2020, the largest American voting bloc will be 18-35 year olds, and 90% of them will be connected to the Internet. It’s crazy to think about- but just about every one of those individuals will have an embarrassing picture, a controversial tweet, or something from their younger days that will still be around for the world to see- and with that opposition campaigns will be less focused on one’s background, because it’s all out there. What comes around, goes around.

So, as a candidate, politico- or just a person- don’t bore the world with your media. Open up, and show that you have a life. This doesn’t mean to use it to offend everybody with your vulgarities, but definitely show a lighter side of life.

People know that politicians aren’t sitting around every night talking to their families about Obamacare, so don’t try to craft that image through your social networks.

Campaigns might hesitate at the thought, but politics is always slow to adapt. Personality and candor used to kill campaigns. Now, that dynamic is shifting.

Get ahead, and use it to your advantage.