Be at the Table

02 Feb Be at the Table

Dear Here to Help,

I am the CEO of a professional association. A constant frustration with government decisions is that they don’t talk to us – the profession – before they make their decisions. Government “consultation” is often after the fact and our input then doesn’t seem to change much. This means that we spent a lot of time working around and/or trying to undo government decisions that could have been so much better… if only they had spoken to us earlier on.

How do we become part of government’s decision-making process?

Thank you for your query.

You are not the only one who feels that government decisions and decision-making can be as obscure as trying to decipher the ingredients of a magical potion in a fantasy series!

Let’s take a closer look at government decision-making. Here are some elements that go into the decision “potion”:

• media and social media pressures
• internal government politics
• known facts for government workers in your area
• research by those same workers
• input from trusted advisers

The role of associations who wish to influence and improve government decisions comes down to these last 3 dot points. You can help ensure better informed government workers whose job includes your profession. You do this by becoming a trusted adviser.

How to become a trusted adviser? As the ad said, “it won’t happen overnight, but it will happen” with the right ingredients. Think of yourself – how does someone gain your trust? It’s through building a mutual relationship, which you both benefit from, over time.

How do I do it? Set up regular meetings, where you share key information. By helping government better understand your profession (including the bits you aren’t proud of), you are building trust. This way, they are more likely to let you know of upcoming issues, ahead of time. And you can help correct any misconceptions early in the process.

The more you invest in your government relationships, the more likely you will have a solid seat at government’s table going forward.

Good luck!

This article comes from my column entitled “Here to Help” in Hunter Local, February 2025. If you have an everyday problem just begging for a simple, real world solution, send it to “Here to Help” and let’s see what we can achieve.

Elaine Abery has a closet full of great ideas and empowering solutions. She’s also the Director of Unravelling Red Tape, a company dedicated to helping everyday people, not-for-profits and companies change the world through improved decision-making and legislation.