Doing right
Promoting a point of view is good. Creating the impression of bribery is bad.
“Many state and local governments have very clear codes of conduct for their public officials, which will restrict what they can and cannot do or accept from the public,” Pelissero says. “These are intended to limit the opportunities for something to occur that doesn’t appear to be proper. But even if there’s not a legal requirement or restriction, business owners should be mindful of ethical concerns when they interact with local public officials.”
It’s not a good idea, for example, to offer free tickets to some event while at the same time seeking something for your business. And avoid offering to spring for lunch.
“In most cases, the politician can’t accept payment of meals,” Pelissero says. “They need to avoid doing anything that creates the appearance of a gift, for which something was expected in return.”
The trick here is to avoid both the reality and the appearance of shady conduct.
“Business owners should find opportunities to speak to their representatives in ways that don’t appear compromising,” Pelissero says.
Speaking up at city council meetings or public gatherings sponsored by civic organizations such as the Rotary Club is always acceptable. Those are good venues to interact with public officials, get to know them and maybe have a chance to talk with them about issues that concern business.
“If you do happen to meet privately with a public official, make sure you are there to provide useful information to help them reach a decision,” Pelissero says. “You’re not there to find out what it is you can do to come to some arrangement about an issue, because that can be perceived as unethical.”
A bonus tip: It’s okay to send a thank you letter to a politician who has done a business-friendly action, and who may want to post your message on their website.
Keeping perspective
Becoming an effective player in local politics can go a long way toward promoting business-friendly regulations. Local politicians want to hear from businesses, just as they want to hear from other area stakeholders.
While speaking up to support business-friendly regulations is important, the effective business ambassador moves slowly and carefully, sending out feelers while avoiding any step that might transcend ethical boundaries.
“Keep things in perspective,” Hadley says. “This is a situation where you want to kind of crawl before you walk. Listen to your local public officials and learn about their perspectives before you jump into local politics full force.”
At the end of the day, achieving a favorable business operating environment boils down to communicating effectively. While professionals advise treading carefully, they do encourage taking action.
“Don’t wait until a law is passed and then write a letter to the editor complaining about it,” Ennico says. “That’s an absolute waste of time. Get involved. Go to meetings. Be part of the solution.”
Phillip M. Perry is an award-winning journalist who is published widely in the fields of business management, workplace psychology and employment law.