The rules of the game in Brussels have changed. President Juncker’s Commission has a very new political agenda, and one which it intends to apply with new rules on how the Commission works.
NGOs and others seemed to be caught off guard when these rules got changed. Some seem to refusing to accept that the rules have been changed, or are hoping that the rules will get changed back. That is either wishful thinking or delusional.
The signs of the changes in the rules of the game had long been advertised.
In campaigning and lobbying I see the side-effects of those who don’t want to change.
Is the System Really Broken?
Several years ago when I worked at WWF, I worked on the annual fishing quotas adopted in Brussels at the end of December. When I started I was surprised to learn that, despite a lot of lobbying from NGOs, quotas were adopted year after year that ignored scientific advice.
I could not understand why. I was told that “the system is broken”. It sounded plausible but I needed to check. I am by nature sceptical and curious.
I learned by speaking to key players that the key decisions were in reality taken far earlier in the year before WWF had started work, and often imposed by Norway, who we had never spoken to.
When we adjusted our game, and spoke with the Norwegians, and started far earlier in the year, the result was a lot different, and we got what we wanted.
Head in the Sands in Brussels
The European Commission’s ‘jobs & growth’ agenda is very different. And, unless you have had you head in the sand, things will be very different. There is no appetite to table popular if stupid proposals under Juncker.
However, a lot of people still can’t be bothered to spend 30 minutes reading the new rule book. I would hate to read the regurgitated advice they are giving (advice that was is likely similar to that given under Prodi, let alone Barroso).
For example, a client was faced with proposed restrictions on their business, which for all intents and purposes would close them down. What was happening looked they everything Juncker’s political guidelines were against. And, when this was flagged to the right people, sanity was seen, even at a late hour.
Change or Perish
Changing the game tactics is often seen by some as a personal affront. Some people have been playing the same game in the same way for ever. They think that there is only one way to play. They are wrong.
Values are of course permanent: integrity, decency, concurrence. However the ideas and techniques used to win only stand the test of time based on one simple criteria: do they work. If they do not, the solution is simple, get rid of them.
Copy Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin is often cited as saying “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.”
Charlie Munger has many good ideas. One I like a lot is the idea of “Invert, always invert.” He suggests that really hard problems can be solved if approached backwards. This answers often come from trying to discredit your assumptions. It is not for the faint hearted, but the faint hearted should try another job.
What Game Are You Playing
It’s dangerous to be stuck in one technique, one perspective, one idea about what works. It’s even worse if the game you’re playing, has the rules changed, and you either fail to notice that the rules have been changed, or you play on just pretending things are the same. When you lose, which you will, you will likely blame some unique conditions, or an off day. You’re likely not realise the reason you lost is that the game has just changed, and you are no longer in the game.