- Engage Regularly
Don’t Only Show Up When You Have a Problem - Know Who to Talk To
Don’t Waste Your Time With Somebody Who Has No Interest or No Influence - Be Useful
Don’t Just Be a Pain in The Neck - Give Your Input at the Right Moment
Don’t Overestimate Politicians’ Attention Span - Know the Political Process
Don’t Make a Fool of Yourself by Addressing the Wrong Person in the Wrong Institution - Be Constructive
Don’t Just Barge in With Opposition - Involve Like-Minded People and Organizations
Don’t Be a Lone Hero - Concentrate on the Objective
Don’t Insist on a Particular Solution - Listen
Don’t Just Broadcast - Use Different Channels for Different Purposes
Don’t Show up When Everything Is Already Set Up for Decision
How can we help you?
Switzerland is a participatory democracy. Stakeholders are expected to engage with Swiss society and particularly with officials and politicians to find solutions for laws, regulations and even enforcement. Indeed, lobbying – or advocacy to use a less charged word – is enshrined in the Swiss constitution. Literally, the Swiss Constitution stipulates in Article 147:
“ The Cantons, the political parties and interested groups shall be invited to express their views when preparing important legislation or other projects of substantial impact as well as in relation to significant international treaties.”
The formal implementation of this call for participation is a process of consultation with the main trade associations, the parties, the large corporations, civil society, and any citizen or in fact non-citizen who wishes to provide their input.
On a more practical level, however, government officials and members of parliament appreciate input from those who are active in the area to be regulated – or deregulated – even before draft law or ordinance is submitted for consultation. That has a simple reason: These know what they are talking about.
Switzerland together with the US is the most federally organized country in the world. That means that important decisions are being prepared and taken on three political levels: the commune, the canton, and the confederation (which is the federal government). Administrations and legislatives on all levels offer points for engagement.
Other jurisdictions where we are active are less openly in favor of participation. However, for example, Brussels officials and members of the European Parliament will also take into consideration input from stakeholders if this input is brought forward in the right way. The same is true for US and UK policy makers. In Central Asia, such as Uzbekistan, the rules may again be different. But some simple guidelines apply universally for your business, your foundation, or your association. What are these?
1. Engage Regularly – Don’t Only Show Up When You Have a Problem
Good advocacy means regularly being in contact with policy makers – be it the administration or parliament. By building a relationship, you create trust and understanding for the importance of your business or your mission as an NGO. Nobody appreciates a person that only shows up when they (desperately) need something from you.
2. Know Who to Talk To – Don’t Waste Your Time With Somebody Who Has No Interest or No Influence
Find out who is in charge of the issue you are interested in. Which government department is commissioned to draft the new regulation you are worried about? Which official is responsible for the area of your mission? Who is the minister in charge of the policy area that is important for you? Which member of parliament makes a point in engaging in your area of your mission? Find ways to approach the right person in an appropriate manner.
The point is, don’t talk to somebody who has nothing to do with your area of business or – worse still – who is known to have no interest in helping. You’ll only waste their time – and your own!
3. Be Useful – Don’t Just Be a Pain in The Neck
At least in Switzerland, government is often thinly staffed. One department will have to take care of very different areas. Commissioned to draft a new law or regulation, an official will therefore often be grateful for indications how to address your issue. Moreover, they are just human. They just have a task to fulfill, no matter whether that task is good or bad for you. So don’t just barge in with demands and leave the official alone with their task. Make proposals and make sure to be as specific as possible. Offer your help instead of your enmity.
4. Give Your Input at the Right Moment – Don’t Overestimate Politicians’ Attention Span
Be sure to bring up your points when officials and politicians are interested in it. Politicians tend to have a short attention span. They have so much on their plate that they address the issues one at a time. And they are also very conscious about their image. They will want to become active when their impact is most visible. Political scientists uncharitably call this the power of the election cycle. So don’t show up with an unpopular issue when a member of parliament is up for re-election. Also don’t bring up your case when it is are being discussed at a different time in the political process.
5. Know the Political Process – Don’t Make a Fool of Yourself by Addressing the Wrong Person in the Wrong Institution
Get informed how the decision process works. How can you introduce a proposal into parliament? Which preparatory commission is in charge? For example, in Switzerland, the department of the interior is responsible for pension issues. In parliament, the preparatory commissions are the Social Security and Health Commissions of the Federal Assembly’s two chambers. Find out how these work and who sits in them. Make sure you understand how the two chambers of the Federal Assembly work together.
6. Be Constructive – Don’t Just Barge in With Opposition
If you don’t like how an issue is addressed, try proposing better ways to do so. By just opposing a particular proposal you run the risk that the alternative is even worse for you. Also, by just offering opposition you may also unwillingly take yourself out of the game. Nobody wants to work with a destructive perpetual naysayer.
7. Involve Like-Minded People and Organizations – Don’t Be a Lone Hero
Think about others whose interests are aligned with yours. Which powerful trade association may see things the way you see it? Which foundation or NGO shares the same values you share? Which political party wants to gain distinction by supporting your mission? Raise awareness by approaching like-minded stakeholders and explain why the issue is as important for them as it is for you.
8. Concentrate on the Objective – Don’t Insist on a Particular Solution
Avoid trying to push through a particular solution exactly as you prepared it. Many ways may lead to Rome. Try thinking outside the box. For example, sometimes changing a law raises much more opposition than simply changing the practice of implementation. The upshot is, stay focused on your objective and remember that it doesn’t matter which means are applied to reach your ends. That is as long as they are reached in a democratic way, of course.
9. Listen – Don’t Just Broadcast
One of the most common mistakes in lobbying is to only talk about your issues. If you meet with a decision maker, start by listening what is currently on their mind, what keeps them awake in the night. People are not just there for you, and maybe you can help. Only then bring up your issue. It’s like a conversation over radio: Don’t just broadcast. Also be open to reception.
10. Use Different Channels for Different Purposes – Don’t Show up When Everything Is Already Set Up for Decision
The best way to shape a regulation is to engage early with the administration. We all know about the noisy ways of lobbying. Aggressive posts on social media, alarmist articles in the press, scandals revealed about particular decision makers, etc. But these are not necessarily the most effective ones. By being part of the discussion early on you will be part of the solution without much noise. Engage with the administration working on your regulation if that is possible. If the going gets tough and you realize that you have no traction, that may be the time for different means. You could then ask for the help of a powerful member of parliament or place an article in a respected newspaper. Whatever you do: don’t come up with the nuclear option when others are still well available.
How Can We Help You? –The Art and Science of Government Affairs
Advocacy is both an art and a science. We are happy to support you in your political activities. We can advise you on the steps to take, on who to address and on when and how is the best way to further your mission. Government Affairs is an element of your business conditions you neglect at your own peril. Start shaping them to give your business the best possible chances.
