SKILLS REQUIRED OF A PROFESSIONAL PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCATE

The purpose of Public Policy Advocacy is to influence a governing body, in order to ensure that an individual’s or organization’s point of view is represented in the government. A Public Policy Advocate  is a person who is paid to influence legislation as well as public opinion.  Most major corporations and political interest groups hire professional Public Policy Advocates to promote their interests as intermediaries; others maintain in-house government affairs departments.

Public Policy Advocacy  is an increasingly visible and influential feature of every political system around the world, practised in a highly sophisticated and professional manner by tens of thousands of people. Public Policy Advocacy is an enormous international industry, worked in by (typically) well-educated, highly-skilled, personable and persuasive individuals.

It has been suggested that a Public Policy Advocate needs the knowledge skills and abilities of the detective, diplomat, doctor, educator, entrepreneur, journalist, orchestra conductor, reporter, and salesperson, among others.

Key Skills Required

• Speaking- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Analysis- Researching topics and news related to the companies and causes you represent. Being well-versed in issues of the day, and in those that affect your employers or causes in particular. Research and analysis of legislation and regulatory proposals. Analytical skills to decide the best time, place and approach to use when meeting a political leader.
• Knowledge- Knowledge of how government works and of the legislative process as well as the industry you represent.
• Critical Thinking- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Active Listening- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. Listening is as important as talking. Language matters a great deal in politics, and the precise choice of words by a legislator is important during any advocacy encounter. Public Policy Advocates need to listen to policy makers carefully in order to decode the (often subtle) messages they are receiving.
• Influencing- Influencing policy makers and opinion leaders, changing public opinion through advertising campaigns and the media.
• Reading comprehension- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Writing- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Social perceptiveness- Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Coordination- Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
• Time Management- Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
• Judgement and decision-making- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Complex Problem Solving- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information  to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Monitoring- Ability to gather information. Monitoring/assessing performance of yourself, other individuals or organizations to make improvements or take corrective actions.
• Observant- Learning about policymakers by observing their environment.
• Service Orientation- Actively looking for ways to help people.
• Persuasion- Persuading others to change their minds or behaviour. Public Policy Advocates are effective only when they can explain the value of their points of view effectively to influence political leaders. The same qualities required to be successful in sales are needed in a successful Public Policy Advocate: cordiality and charm, persistence, understanding of the product (i.e. the position the “issue salesperson” is advocating), and the persuasiveness needed to make the “purchaser” (the public policy-maker) want to buy the “product”.
• Soft Sell- Policy makers tend to believe that their judgement is good, thus they are more likely to respond better to Public Policy Advocates who recognize this, than those who try to impose their views.
• Active Learning- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Negotiations- Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
• Relationship Skills- Ability to form and develop solid relationships. A sense of and enjoyment in dealing with people. A confident but restrained personality. It is imperative not only to establish a direct and personal relationship with a policy maker but also to maintain the relationship over time. Effectiveness and reputation depend in large part on an ability to cultivate and nurture long term relationships. Charm, personality and interpersonal skills all help in this critical role. Understanding which political leaders are key influencers and focusing on those relationships first are major elements of success.
• Systems Analysis- Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations and the environment will affect outcomes.
• Systems Evaluation- Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance relative to the goals of the system.
• Management of Personnel Resources- Motivating, developing and directing people as they work, identify the best people for the job.
• Instructing- Teaching others how to do something.
• Educating- Educating government officials and corporate officers on important issues. Educating public officials about how science, technology, global trade, national security issues, market issues and other factors affect individuals, companies, nations and other constituencies; how current or proposed government proposals can help or hurt these various constituencies. Helping public officials strategize for upcoming public policy debates.Educating clients and the general public about how the political system works.
• Operations Analysis- Analyzing needs and requirements
• Personal Traits and Qualities- Well-spoken, Well-mannered, Sense of Humour, Courtesy, Pleasantness, Empathic, Honesty,  Credibility, Integrity.
  • Honesty: It is important to make one’s position clear and to also deal with contrary arguments. A good Public Policy Advocate does not just present his own side of an argument. He also explains how the opposition see things but stresses that the policy maker should support his argument because it actually makes more sense in the long term. The most important point is to tell the truth. Telling the truth means acknowledging that there are other people involved in the debate who don’t necessarily share your point of view and presenting your case honestly. It is important not merely to be honest but also to be seen by policymakers to be honest.
  • Credibility: Public policy advocacy is about the communication of credible information. Credibility means accuracy, transparency and reliability. A Public Policy Advocate must be viewed as a credible source of reliable, up-to-date information. Credibility requires that the Public Policy Advocate establishes a reputation for being knowledgeable about relevant policy issues, for being reliable and honest in the provision of both information and opinion to policy makers, and for being consistent over time.
  • Integrity: Integrity suggests that the Public Policy Advocate adheres to any relevant codes of conduct or legislation regulating the conduct of public policy advocacy. There is a high standard of ethical behaviour expected of Public Policy Advocates. People who do not act ethically will quickly loose all credibility and access. It also implies that the individual Public Policy Advocate has a set of personal values which  ensures that he or she will not engage in any public policy advocacy activities with which he or she is not comfortable.