Changing Role of Government Affairs

They say one of the greatest benefits of growing older is perspective.

I could argue this point, but there is no doubt perspective is a great benefit—especially in the practice of government affairs.

When I first arrived in Washington after teaching university-level political science, this town and the entire government affairs scene was dominated by lobbyists.  Lobbyists were not business managers.  They were personalities–bigger than life.

In most cases, lobbyists represented the entire corporate or association government affairs program and reported directly to the CEO.  If you were not one of those “personality” lobbyists, you hired one to get you into offices on Capitol Hill.

As the first PAC and grassroots consultant in the 1970’s, I can remember how hard it was to convince these lobbyists they needed to get their management and employees/members involved in the process through a PAC and a grassroots lobbying program.   Admittedly, many of the brightest saw the benefits immediately.  Yet others believed that a PAC or grassroots lobbying effort would somehow take away from their own lobbying accomplishments.

Today, the government affairs function is a multi-disciplined function.  Yes there are still lobbyists (thousands of them) and their role is still important, but effective government affairs in today’s environment involves so much more than lobbying.  It has become the effective management of an organization’s political and communications resources in an effort to protect the bottom line and advance policies that help ensure the enterprise’s success.

In short, influencing public policy has changed dramatically—a belief supported by a recent survey released by the George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management.  It is less personality driven and more process driven.  Senior public affairs executives may not even be lobbyists.  Today, they are adept at directing the strategic use of political and communications resources involving a PAC, grassroots advocacy with various internal and external constituencies, traditional and social media, public relations, direct lobbying; and educating and engaging senior leaders.