Others rely on their industry to handle
these matters. Often, industry deals with
issues as they arise, meaning your industry
organization doesn’t always have the
strategic, long-term focus your particular
business needs. Also, your industry organization
may not have the same connections
within government that a firm does.
Step 2: Seek a government
relations firm
Paying to get quality research, meeting
the right people and effectively using your
meeting time with government is an investment
in your business. Spending the money
to hire a government relations firm will get
you a return on your investment. A firm will
research how your issues relate to government
policy and report how you would be
impacted positively and negatively.
You learn whom in government you
should meet with to discuss your issues
and the appropriate introductions are
made. It’s expected when you get in touch
with government about meeting that you
provide background materials, can explain
what other issues may come up and
can describe the reason for the meeting.
You have to be ready to answer all those
questions and provide documentation.
Also, you know your business inside and
out, but not all that detail needs to be brought
up in a meeting with a minister. A government
relations firm will help you boil down
your perspective into more focused, easy to
consume messages so you can tell your story
more effectively. This elevates your interaction
with government to a more professional
and formalized relationship, which is what is
expected when you reach out.
Step 3: Avoid landmines
Being friendly isn’t enough. You need to
be prepared. There has to be a focus to the
meeting.
A meeting with a minister lasts 30 minutes
at most, which means you need to focus
your issue down to its main points. A
FARRELL AGENCIES LTD.
Bonding - Property Insurance - Commercial Auto
Insuring the building
of Saskatchewan
since 1974
HEAD OFFICE – PO Box 758 41 Broadway Street West
Yorkton, SK S3N 0L6
Phone: 306-783-4477 Toll free: 1-800-268-3675
www.farrellagencies.com
201 Third Street Bredenbury, SK
Phone: 306-898-2333
Fax: 306-898-2103
320 Main Street Foam Lake, SK
Phone: 306-272-3242
Fax: 306-272-4294
305 Main Street Stoughton, SK
Phone: 306-457-2433
Fax: 306-457-2636
132 Vincent Avenue East
Churchbridge, SK
Phone: 306-896-2269
Fax: 306-896-2242
firm will meet with you ahead of your meeting
to learn about your issue in order to do
that for you.
With that information, as well as its own
research, a firm will provide you a briefing
note, a bio of those you are meeting with
and offer insight into where the minister will
likely land on the issues. They will prepare
you on nuances of whom you will meet, so
you can prepare for and better understand
your interaction. Then, after the meeting,
you’ll connect for a debrief and follow up
with any needs that have been generated.
Step 4: Tell your story
Saskatchewan is not known for typical lobbying.
In other jurisdictions, government
relations firms do all the interaction with
government on the client’s behalf. Here in
Saskatchewan, firms make the introduction
and prepare you to tell your story.
That’s because you are the best person to
tell your own story. You know your business
intimately, so when questions are asked,
you have all the answers at the moment
they are needed.
It is also to your benefit to be seen as the
face and voice of your business. By meeting
with government and civil servants yourself,
they can put a face to a name in other
settings where you could meet. Being recognized
as the representative of your own
interests goes a long way.
Step 5: Maintain the
relationship
A single meeting with government rarely
accomplishes what you need. That means
FEATURE
“Paying to get quality
research, meeting
the right people and
effectively using
your meeting time
with government
is an investment
in your business.
40 Think BIG | Quarter 1 2016 | saskheavy.ca
/www.farrellagencies.com
/saskheavy.ca