I start with a radical idea : To know is to understand. And, if you don’t understand at a deep level, your can’t assist.
You can only know a limited number of areas deeply. It takes time, consistent and diligent practice, over time, to develop expertise.
As a lobbyist you need to develop, over time, expertise. You can opt for surface level (superficial) knowledge or detailed knowledge based on a life time of focused work.
Anything important, tricky, novel, is going to need deep expertise to resolve it.
This is understood for other important areas. When you go to hospital, you likely want the correct diagnoses, and right treatment, by a specialist.
A Small Circle of Competence
Source: https://medium.com/mental-models-product/mental-models-product-3-circle-of-competence-898eec4b0944
I’ve always found it dangerous to stray out side my small circle of competence.
When you do, the chances of getting things wrong go up, a lot.
There are many parts of Public Affairs work I simply refuse to do – in particular Powerpoint – because I’m not good at it, or there are far better people than me to do it.
I only feel comfortable professionally working on a limited number of areas (5).
What Group are you
Over 30 years, I’ve noticed two groups of lobbyists.
Group 1: Those who hold themselves out as doing it all personally.
Group 2: Those who do a few things.
I observe, that group 2 has a better track record of delivering success for their clients. Not just a little more success, but a lot more.
The need for an Interdisciplinary Team
In my limited 30 years experience, I’d recommend a interdisciplinary team to solve a challenging policy, regulatory or legislative file.
For my own work – chemicals – that interdisciplinary team is going to have individuals who are:
Scientific expert (for the end point)
Regulatory expert
Legal specialist
Decision-maker
Paymaster (someone needs to pay for this)
Room reader
Project manager
Advocate – someone who can make the issue simple and communicate to the intended audience
Door Opener – someone who can get you the right levels of access
Guide: Someone who can guide you through the mechanics of the process.
Many people will hold themselves as ticking off most, if not all, of these boxes. These people are like gods who have blessed us mere mortals with their presence.
I’ve only met a few genuine gods over more than 30 + years. They all practiced delegation and understood the value of opportunity cost and the division of labour (shout out to Adam Smith’s great idea).