Effective Lobbying: Principles and Strategies for Business and Society

This essay provides an overview of the principles of effective lobbying for business and society. It discusses the framework that lobbyists undertake for a dialogue with government authorities and politicians, including learning about the issue, anticipating questions, remaining flexible and patient, speaking the truth, keeping things simple, building coalitions, and thinking realistically. The essay concludes by emphasizing the responsibility of maintaining dignity, orderliness, and integrity in the role of the lobbyist for the process of democratic decision-making.

Running head: BUSINESS AND SOCIETY
Business and Society
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1BUSINESS AND SOCIETY
Introduction:
The essay aims at providing an overview on business and society from the perspective
of effective lobbying. The principles of effective lobbying are a framework that lobbyists
undertake for a dialogue with the government authorities and the politician. The principles
are in fact the code of conduct of the industry that supplements the regulations and the rules
governing the area.
Principle of Effective Lobbying:
The principles of effective lobbying involves learning about the issue the lobbyist wants
to address by expressing clarity on how it impact them and the legislators, the key decision
makers of an issue1. Lobbyist should anticipate questions asked by the legislators and be
ready with an answer. The principles indicate that the lobbyist should remain flexible and
patient in order to adapt to the political and the schedule changes at a short notice without
getting frustrated with the legislators. They should also speak the truth, as the legislators will
depend on the information provided by the lobbyist. Dishonesty will lead to loss of
credibility2. The principles also focuses on keeping things simple by looking ahead and
deciding on a summary which would be appreciated by the legislators and their staffs. It is
also necessary for the lobbyist to know their friends and work with them since friends are
those who extend a helping hand during need. At the same time, they should also know the
opponents as it would prevent the lobbyist in wasting time in convincing the opposition
people.
1 I. Lock, P. Seele, R.L. Heath , Where grass has no roots: The concept of ‘shared strategic communication’as an
answer to unethical astroturf lobbying. International Journal of Strategic Communication. 2016, pp. 87-100.
2 H .L. Friedman and M.S. Heinle, Lobbying and uniform disclosure regulation. Journal of Accounting
Research, 2016, pp. 863 - 893.

2BUSINESS AND SOCIETY
The principles also necessitate the lobbyist in thinking realistically3. This is because the
legislative process depends on compromise of certain needs without the intent of hurting the
request. This is done based on the decision and priority of the most important thing prior to
advancing the request and thereby preparing oneself for a compromise. Effective lobbying
also involves building coalition with individuals and groups agreeing on the same issue4.
Lobbyists should work at the local levels as legislators pay more attention to constituents.
The norm enables the lobbyist in directly influencing decision makers.
Conclusion:
To conclude, one can say that lobbying refers to the integral part of democratic and
political process. This involvement leads to the responsibility of maintaining dignity,
orderliness and integrity of strengthening and maintaining trust in role of the lobbyist for the
process of democratic decision-making.
3 S. Laboutkova and P. Vymetal, Measures of Transparent Lobbying: How to Approach It and Evaluate It: A
Preliminary Stage. In Proceedings of the 21st International Conference Current Trends in Public Sector
Research 2017, pp. 50-57.
4 M.T. Heaney and P. Leifeld, Contributions by Interest Groups to Lobbying Coalitions. The Journal of Politics,
2018, pp. 494-509.

3BUSINESS AND SOCIETY
References:
Friedman, H.L. and M.S. Heinle, Lobbying and uniform disclosure regulation. Journal of
Accounting Research, 2016.
Heaney, M.T. and P. Leifeld, Contributions by Interest Groups to Lobbying Coalitions. The
Journal of Politics, 2018.
Laboutkova, S. and P. Vymetal, Measures of Transparent Lobbying: How to Approach It
and Evaluate It: A Preliminary Stage. InProceedings of the 21st International Conference
Current Trends in Public Sector Research, 2017.
Lock, I., P. Seele and R.L. Heath, Where grass has no roots: The concept of ‘shared strategic
communication’as an answer to unethical astroturf lobbying. International Journal of
Strategic Communication. 2016.