Lobbying with integrity
Lobbying can be a loaded word, when I tell people that I do Government Affairs in the pharmaceutical sector I often get a look that seems to indicate that political engagement by a company is a bit suspicious…
Just to be clear, I think it is completely legitimate for companies to represent their interests in political processes, they are societal stakeholders contributing to GDP, trade balances, taxes, innovation, job creation, etc.
But how do you lobby, or influence, with integrity? You need to believe in what you are lobbying for.
On a personal level, in my opinion, if you are comfortable explaining the position you are defending to friends and family you are on the right path.
We can all fall prey to group think within a function or company, believing that everyone should agree with us.
This is where considering what your family would thing comes in handy.
Why? It’s simple, if you can explain to your grandmother (partner, children, etc) what you are trying to achieve without and feel good about it, then you can be pretty sure you will come across as authentic with policy makers
If you are being asked to lobby for something you don’t believe in, it will be hard to come across as authentic in meetings, so what do you do?
Engage with your business partners, work with them to find solutions that you feel good about lobbying for, it is not always easy, but completely achievable.
I help clients globally develop win-win Government Affairs Strategies anchored in business priorities, underpinned by relevant KPIs and implementation measures. Curious to know more? Send me an email on [email protected]
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Managing Partner at FIPRA International, FIPRA Network Advisory Board Executuve Member, Founding & Board Member W@LifeSciences, Co-Chair British Chamber of Commerce Healthcare Committee
3 周Spot on Karen! The ‘red face’ test is vital; defending the undefendabke can deliver short term ‘wins’ but will backfire. Doors will close and trust and reputation will be lost. This trade-off is bigger than sometimes given credit for.
Empowering Public Affairs Leaders with Strategic Alignment, Advocacy, and Measurable Impact | Specialist in Strategy Development and Stakeholder Engagement
3 周Great advice Karen - particularly on the point of feeling comfortable explaining your organisation's position to friends as a check.