1000 Business Lessons Every Businessman Must Know

Chapter 71 Political Networking: Building Healthy, Positive Relationships

576. Keeping a Good Distance from Politicians

When dealing with politicians, you must maintain a high degree of vigilance, neither too close nor too far away.If it is too close, maybe one day when a rope is strung together, it will cause trouble.But it’s not okay to be too far away from politicians. If you are too far away, you will not be able to enter through many thresholds. For example, people get information first, and you get it later.Therefore, you must master the skills of dealing with politicians, and the purpose must be very clear.

Usually, you and politicians can become critical friends, beneficial friends rather than bad friends. It is not like now, when it comes to making friends with politicians, there must be something to hide.

It is difficult for many politicians in his circle to hear the truth.However, if you are an outsider and a bystander, you can study and discuss with him about the things he cares about, and tell him what others can't say, and you will get his approval.For example, there are many malpractices in the society, and there are many views and opinions on his region in the society. If you can openly talk with him and discuss the issues he cares about, you can become his friend. And this kind of friendship is as light as water between gentlemen and has no relationship with money.Communication without money relationship is long-term. On this issue, businessmen must establish correct concepts and motivations.

577. Establish a relationship of mutual trust

Canadian Chinese Liu Zhidong was good at dealing with politicians when he was the managing director of SNC Engineering Consulting Company in Canada, and made many political friends with his sincerity.

Once, the Canadian Export Development Board asked Liu Zhidong to write a detailed report on the strength of his company to the Development Bureau, so as to determine the attitude of the Development Bureau to Liu Zhidong's company.Some people intend to deliberately exaggerate the company's strength and use some frothy information to deceive the government. Liu Zhidong believes that this is unacceptable, because once a politician is deceived, once it is discovered in the future, the brand will be smashed in the eyes of the other party. The gain outweighs the loss. The company finally reported the truth own strength, and put forward a lot of rationalization suggestions to politicians.

Because of Liu Zhidong's sincerity, officials from these government departments often update him on the latest developments in economic and trade relations between Canada and other countries.This is also one of the secrets of Liu Zhidong's success.Liu Zhidong also hired former Canadian politicians, former ministers, former ambassadors abroad, and former commercial counselors as company consultants to serve as a bridge between the company and the government, because they are very familiar with the government's operating rules and procedures.

Yuan Haiying, a Budweiser China government relations consultant, also said: "When doing business in China, you have to deal with politicians every moment!"

When Budweiser entered China, it negotiated with relevant government departments such as the Planning Commission, the Ministry of Internal Trade, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, the State Administration of Taxation, the State Administration of Finance, the State Environmental Protection Administration, and the Ministry of Agriculture on investment policies; When choosing Wuhan as an investment location, communicate with the local government, labor, public security, and environmental protection departments on specific investment matters.

578. It is better to achieve "win-win" with politicians

For many politicians, what they need most is a good track record.Therefore, if we can help them make a breakthrough in their political achievements, they will undoubtedly get their strong support.You can consider letting the government be affiliated with your company to guide your company, and try your best to let them understand that if your company is done well, you will have to invest more, and you can also persuade other investors to invest here.In addition, the company can provide more taxes to the local area, so that the local finance can also have money.This is in the interests of many politicians today.Once the company is well established, the higher-level government will recognize the ability of these politicians when they see such an excellent company in the local area. Therefore, this method is usually more effective.

In addition, you can also consider allowing your company to fully demonstrate its good image by participating in various social welfare activities, and leave a good "first impression" in the eyes of the government, and half of the success of the business is achieved.

In 2005, Ford invested a huge amount of money in China to set up an environmental protection award, and awarded Li Rong, a Hebei farmer who reforested 4000 mu of barren hills, the "Ford Yellow River Award for Environmental Protection".Of course, Ford also got what it wanted.At the launching ceremony of the Environmental Protection Award, Dong Zhiping, former vice minister of the Ministry of Forestry, and Qu Geping, member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and director of the Environment and Resources Protection Committee, all highly praised Ford's environmental protection contribution.Cheng Meiwei, president of Ford China, said frankly that such activities not only increased the trust of politicians, but also increased the reputation of the brand.

There are various ways to carry out government public relations within the legal scope, such as sponsoring disabled children and extremely poor students, supporting major government activities, providing scientific research equipment to universities and scientific research institutions, and so on.As long as we think about it in another way, government public relations can broaden the sky and win the legal space for development.

579. Building a platform for political and business exchanges

Whoever has the advantage of integrating resources will hold the key to knocking on the door of wealth.And political honor, in a certain sense, can be described as a stepping stone to resource integration.

Through this platform, the use of these "political titles" increases the opportunities for enterprises to contact and communicate with government departments, and it is more conducive to entrepreneurs to understand various policy information in a timely manner, to facilitate information feedback between enterprises and the government, and to express the voice of enterprises.

Some business owners can skillfully use these "titles" to find a platform for communicating with relevant leaders and people in the society at all levels, use this platform to make friends with people from all walks of life, and turn this resource advantage into the business process for the company to use.

Mr. Li from Jiangsu is deeply touched by this.Becoming a deputy to the National People's Congress is not only a political honor for him, but also he has met many outstanding people from all walks of life through attending the meeting.During the meeting, he learned that a wholesale market for agricultural products was going to be built somewhere in Anhui, but the government lacked funds.After understanding and analyzing, Mr. Li believed that this project has a high rate of return and development space, so he contacted and negotiated with him and successfully won the project.

580. "Political title" is not only a kind of political honor

The "political title" of an entrepreneur is not only a political honor, but also the affirmation and recognition of the company's achievements by the government and society, which invisibly enhances people's trust in the company.

Jiang Xipei, chairman of Jiangsu Far East Group Co., Ltd., a representative of the [-]th National People's Congress, said bluntly that becoming a representative of the [-]th National People's Congress is his most proud success. He said: "I like money, the more the better, and I also like fame and status." People Speculation about his political and official background gave Jiang Xipei an extra bargaining chip in the business field and increased his trust. This was the first visible convenience that the title of party member brought to Jiang Xipei.

According to the analysis of a senior Yixing city official who knew about Jiang Xipei's growth experience, when party member Jiang Xipei does business with others, the collaborators feel at ease.Party membership and political honor increase people's trust in entrepreneurs and enterprises, and reduce the operating costs of enterprises.

581. Be a Red Top Businessman in the New Era

The reason why Hu Xueyan, as a model of "red-top businessman" in modern China, was able to change from a bank boy to a giant businessman is due to his inherent intelligence and scheming, as well as his chance to succeed.Zuo Wenxiang, Zuo Zongtang, gave Hu Xueyan four opportunities to make a fortune: first, let him be responsible for the equipment and food and salaries of the Changjie Army, and made the military fortune; second, ordered him to help build the Mawei Shipyard, and made the technology and equipment fortune The third is to order him to set up the Shanghai Transshipment Bureau to handle the materials and ordnance needed for the Western Expedition military affairs, and make a transfer fortune;Therefore, without Zuo Zongtang, there would be no Hu Xueyan who was famous for a while.Hu Xueyan used his relationship with Zuo Zongtang to accumulate wealth.

So how should entrepreneurs master this relationship?The success of private enterprises is inseparable from the local government and leaders, but when it comes to how entrepreneurs should master this relationship, a boss from Wenzhou, Zhejiang made a very vivid analogy: "The relationship between private enterprises and local government leaders should be mastered. It is very important to have a good heat. When it is too cold, add some hot water, and when it is too hot, add a little cold water." Neither too far nor too close, which is the so-called "friendship between gentlemen is as light as water".On this issue, first of all, entrepreneurs must establish correct concepts and motivations in order to achieve sound development of the economic environment.

(End of this chapter)