Power Shifts

Societal Alignment is the strategic power derived from a company’s ability to align its goals, values, and operations with the broader needs and priorities of society, and to actively engage with citizens and communities/ Here's why it matters.

Public Trust is about building a strong, trustworthy reputation that enhances public confidence and influences regulatory perceptions and decisions. When you have public trust, you earn the benefit of the doubt. You earn a wider permission space. It’s like the grease between the gears, and without it, you can’t be effective.

And here’s why it’s so powerful: A well-known and respected brand is difficult for new entrants to replicate quickly. A good brand comes with time, and is the result of constant engagement with political actors, regulators, and citizens.

Regulatory adaptability and ecosystem control is the strategic power derived from a company’s ability to control critical components of its industry ecosystem, enabling it to influence regulatory environments, shape regulatory standards, and quickly adapt to regulatory changes.

Here's why it matters.

Next up in my draft framework for regulatory success: Coalition building.

Now, this sounds like a pretty standard play, but uniting competitors behind a shared industry goal is something near impossible. It involves herding cats and getting competitors to work collaboratively. This can be especially tough in emerging sectors or emerging policy areas. When it works though, it works well and can often lead to more balanced regulations that consider multiple perspectives.

Here's how effectively advocating for favourable regulatory conditions through strategic lobbying efforts and mobilizing citizens can create a hell of a moat.

We’ve covered off the first two powers, 1) Regulatory Foresight, and 2) Government Engagement. Next up, the Power of Compliance Leadership.

Which is simply setting industry benchmarks by exceeding standard regulatory compliance requirements.

I’m experimenting with a new framework for multinational brands navigating complex political and regulatory landscapes. Last week I explored the power of Regulatory Foresight. Today, we look at the power of Government Engagement, with an eye to securing exclusive regulatory partnerships.

I’m experimenting with a new framework for multinational brands navigating complex political and regulatory landscapes.

I’m still fleshing this out, but I have a v.01 of 7 Regulatory Powers that the most successful businesses leverage to manage political risk, regulatory challenges, influence policy, and build a strategic advantage in diverse markets.

Here are my 8 Regulatory Powers:

I’ll break down each of these over the course of the next 8 episodes of the podcast.

First up, Power #1: Regulatory Foresight.

Boeing is in trouble.

17,000 jobs are being cut.

The 777X jet is delayed.

But there’s more to this story.

Every government is becoming more interventionist.

Every business faces more regulation.

And small businesses should the burden of increasing regulation.

But every small business carries political influence.