Chapter 1 - Advocacy
What is Power Mapping?
Power mapping is a visual strategy tool that helps advocates figure out who to influence and how to influence them.
Think of it like political GPS — it shows you where your targets stand on your issue, who they listen to, and what paths might get you closer to change. A power map helps you make smarter, more strategic decisions about where to put your energy.
Instead of guessing or reacting, power mapping helps you:
Clarify your targets — Who has the authority to say yes or no?
Understand relationships — Who influences them? Who do they trust?
Build effective strategy — Who should you engage, pressure, or persuade?
Identify leverage points — Where do you already have influence? Where can you build more?
Why Power Mapping Works
Start with your primary target in the center of the page. This is the person or group who can make the change you want.
From there, draw connections outward to people or groups who:
Support the target (e.g., colleagues, allies, community leaders)
Influence the target (e.g., donors, business leaders, family, voters)
Are influenced by the target (e.g., constituents, employees, media)
Use arrows, lines, and notes to show how these relationships work.
How to Build a Simple Power Map
A decision-maker map is about identifying who holds the authority and where they stand.
A power map goes deeper: it shows the ecosystem of influence around that person and helps you develop a relational strategy to shift the power balance.
Power Map vs. Decision-Maker Map
You don’t need a perfect map to get started. Even sketching out what you know can unlock major insights — and help you figure out what you still need to learn.