Regulation versus Common Sense!

I read with interest journalist and author Philip Whiteley's last post on regulation in British business at http://felipewh.wordpress.com/.

''The arguments over more-versus-less regulation are often not the most important ones to have, because the things that really matter are to do with leadership, workplace competence, engagement and trust''

I found myself nodding along as I read. Regulation is not the sexiest of subjects, but like it or not it increasngly effects my role every day at work. We recently moved around the structure of our office and some of us were in at the weekend moving desks around. Theoretical Health and Safety risk. We have some fabulous working Mums (and some soon to be Mums) in our office. Maternity leave requires a PhD to understand. Let alone the procurement systems that some FTSE businesses would judge a suitable first interface to put together a partnership-orientated approach to scale change!

It is not just my core Lane4 role that I feel this pressure. Wearing my European Sponsorship Association hat, European regulation of alcohol, betting and tobacco sponsorship among other areas is also a hot topic. On one level this is understandable, and yet on another my frustration is that the lobbying becomes an industry in its own right. Six years ago I spoke at a European Union conference on the subject in Brussels. It was run by a private company in a swanky hotel with chiefly European Union Member speakers and evening ''lobbying'' aplenty. There was a distinct sense that nothing at all of any importance would be discussed or debated (let alone decided), apart from which champagne was the best on the menu. 

Despite all of this I support sensible regulation in business leadership. I support it in the world of sponsorship. I particularly support it in an industry such as learning and development where no qualifications are required to call oneself a coach. However I also support common sense. Any business leader who needs to get out the small print to wrangle through a conversation about accrued holiday with a a new Mum returning to work has more fundamental issues in their organisation than the odd day of holiday. Any sporting organisation who genuinely wishes to accept a sponsorship which is ethically dubious will only erode their value in the long term. Equally any HR Director who is prepared to bring in unproven and unsupervised coaches will soon realise that the risks outweigh any potential benefits.  

I believe in regulation to help us look after the vulnerable in society and business, but I also believe that ultimately the ethical, sensible and emotionally intelligent prevail way before it is needed. Regulation in business is similar in many ways to the best negotiated commercial contracts between two organisations. It is important to have in the desk drawer as a guide, but if it ever leaves the desk drawer, it is probably too late!