Some quick tips on the art and science of lobbying Government
What exactly do you want?
First of all, define your issue clearly, your campaign objectives and exactly what it is you want. When you are approaching Government operatives at all levels, you need to be crystal clear about what you want, that is your ‘key asks’.
Who’s who in the zoo?
You need to map out the landscape. Identify key decision makers, both political and bureaucratic. Most importantly, find out as much as practicable about these decision makers and their network of influencers on whom they rely on for advice; their advisers, colleagues, factional allies and so on. In addition map any other significant players on the stakeholder landscape such as any lobby or pressure groups on whom the decision maker will interact around your issue. Doing your homework at this point will ensure a much more strategically savvy engagement and relationship building strategy.
Make the system work for you
The system will make or break you. At all levels of Government, particularly in the bureaucracy. Make sure you know the correct processes and procedures for decision making to go ahead, or policy to become legislation. Getting advice from someone who has worked in the system in question is a good start.
Forge relationships, Build coalitions of interest
Nothing is as powerful as many voices. The rise of grassroots driven politics and lobbying has seen many changes in politics. The 2008 victory of Barack Obama proved to the world what large scale grass roots activism and advocacy could achieve. Identifying, recruiting and mobilising grassroots constituents around your cause has long been a political technique employed by the most savvy issue advocates, but the internet has unlocked the potential to do this on a massive scale.
Take a campaign approach – shape the debate
Campaigns are the lifeblood of politics. They are also an extremely effective way of influencing Government thinking. Define a core set of key messages to drive your campaign. Be ready for the long haul. Government decisions take time.
Progressively shape the environment in which critical decisions are made and implemented. At bluegrass, we have worked on major decision making and policy change campaigns at all levels of Government across the country.
Why not send us an an email to talk to us how you could approach your own lobbying efforts.
