THE FOUR TYPES OF GR PROFESSIONALS

When it comes to professional Government Relations services, four types of professionals can be distinguished:

1. Talented GR Expert: This professional has a high level of expertise coupled with a strong brand. He/she’s as adept as any of his/her competitors, and the “right people,” existing clients, prospects and key referral sources, know who he/she is and what he/she is capable of doing extremely well. The Talented GR Expert will do an exceptional job for clients and he/she will have the opportunity to do so.
2. Hidden GR Talent: This professional has a high level of expertise but lacks a meaningful brand. He/she’s not well recognized for his/her knowledge and capabilities. Given the opportunity to work for a high-caliber client, this professional will do an exceptional job. The big complication is in sourcing that high-caliber client. Potential clients are unaware of, or have a limited view of, his/her capabilities. Other professionals do not know much about him/her and are not likely to send new business his/her way. This results in this professional periodically – or worse, frequently – not being in the running to win a prospect’s business.
3. Incompetent GR: The Incompetent GR lacks expertise and a meaningful brand. The Incompetent GR is unlikely to get very far. His/her ability to source new business is dreadfully limited.
4. Incompetent GR Expert: This professional has a very solid and attractive brand in the right circles. The fact that he/she is not very capable is not a deterrent to his/her ability to generate a lot of new business and consequently tremendous pecuniary success. Put plainly: A lack of real technical capabilities doesn’t pose an obstacle to very effective business development efforts when the right circle of people believe in his/her professional knowledge and abilities even if they’re illusions.

The two types that are best able to generate new business are the Talented GR Expert and the Incompetent GR Expert. When it comes to being very effective at new business development, these two types pretty much occupy the same playing field. Why is this the case? It’s really quite simple. When it comes to high-end professional government relations services – and complex knowledge-based specializations – clients and prospects, as well as their other advisors and confidants, are regularly incapable of accurately evaluating the legitimate expertise and capabilities of most GR professionals.

Being recognized by decision-makers as a GR Expert and actually being a GR Expert is not necessarily the same thing. The most effective and powerful way to become recognized as a foremost Expert in the field of Government Relations is to become an industry thought leader. Even if one is not that knowledgeable and capable, by becoming an industry thought leader one is likely to be as effective as a Talented Expert when it comes to Government Relations .

GR Thought Leaders

Thought leaders are the informed opinion leaders and the go-to people in the field of GR. They are trusted sources who move and inspire people with innovative ideas; turn ideas into reality, and know and show how to replicate their success. They create a dedicated group of friends, fans and followers to help them replicate and scale those ideas into sustainable change not just in one company but in the GR industry.

GR Thought Leaders are changing the world in meaningful ways and engage others to join their efforts. They create evolutionary and even revolutionary advancements in the field of GR not just by urging others to be open to new ways of thinking, but when they create a blueprint for people to follow – they provide a method, process, guidelines or a set of best practices.

GR Thought leaders who codify the steps necessary to follow in their footsteps assure that others will align with and build on their success. This guarantees that they are not confined to making small tweaks around the edges, but instead create a foundation for others to build on or a movement for others to join.

GR Thought leaders do come in every shape and size, they do come from any background or community and they can be any age, gender or ethnicity. Thought leadership takes time (sometimes years); knowledge and expertise in the field of GR,  a certain level of commitment and a willingness to buck the status quo or the way things have always been done.

GR Thought leadership gives you access to people who can help you make things happen - leaders in your organization or community; innovators in the GR profession, or researchers in government or regulatory circles.

As a recognized GR Thought Leader you will have the power to persuade, the status and authority to move things in a new direction, and the clout to implement real progress and widespread innovation. People want to affiliate with those who are well known and in the know. Thus, GR Thought Leadership also leads to invitations to join corporate boards, serve on government commissions and participate in industry-wide committees – opportunities to raise your profile from the local to the national to the international stage.

GR Thought leadership is not about being known, it is about being known for making a difference.