Influencing the political game

One of the most important games in town is to influence the way that our politicians  develop, plan and deliver their programmes of work through local and national politics. Anyone who has run a business knows that you never get the most out of people by complaining, and that constructive feedback that ends up with the other person feeling good, is the most effective way to get change (unless people are breaking the law / fiddling expenses etc).

Over the years, I've worked hard to influence strategy and context awareness for most of the main UK political parties - keynote speaking for Labour, coaxing Conservatives, hosting liberal leaders and, most recently, speaking and Q&A at a Plaid Cymru (the national party for Wales) sustainability strategy event. The proceedings of the event give a good insight into the ways that party politics responds to the stimulus for change. Plaid are certainly keen to engage and listen to good people, and that makes a good start. Their Sustainable Spring document is available here...