The first 100 days of a new government are usually a grace period – 100 days to set a new course, settle in, set priorities, and translate the outstanding issues of a coalition agreement into concrete measures and initiatives. This period ended in mid-August.

In today’s fast-paced world, everything has to move more quickly

Since May, the new coalition has been working tirelessly to stimulate the economy. There is no sign of a grace period. The pace is rapid, expectations are high, and schedules are packed.

And the federal government is delivering. Its 100-day programme has set the course, financing has been agreed in the new draft budget and the finishing touches will follow starting in September.

Communication under the weight of expectations

The public debate about the mixed results from the first 100 days of the Merz government makes clear that  demands on communication increase in parallel with high expectations upon the government to perform. This is where the trouble begins: Friedrich Merz won the elections on domestic policy, but his term as Chancellor began with a focus on foreign policy. Whether the context is a government or a company, a discrepancy between expectations and actual performance can only intensify the need for explanations.

The coalition is clearly making an effort to score points for policy at an early stage and spread a positive mood. This will not happen on its own. Companies also have to play their part.

Companies also need a 100-day policy programme

If they haven’t already done so, companies and organisations should also create their own 100-day plans and define how they can use the new momentum to their advantage.

After all, the federal government’s new financial room for manoeuvre must also result in concrete projects. Tax and legal relief is meant to help implement new, innovative ideas, while the accelerated procedures should facilitate the allocation of resources.

All the money that is made available must be utilised. Being close to your own constituency representative can also help to find ways to use it.

Set the political agenda at the right time

The schedules of political decision-makers are full, and many stakeholders are trying to secure a place for their causes on the agenda as quickly as possible. It is therefore crucial not to get lost in the crowd. Define your cause to ensure it fits in with the federal government’s new dynamic in terms of time and detail, and for the longer term.

Look for a suitable time when your cause has a chance of being addressed. After all, politics is an economic organism, and time is precious. Anything that is not immediately relevant will be pushed to the back of the queue and only addressed later – if at all. You should therefore check when your cause is expected to appear on the policy agenda, and in the meantime gain further supporters who can help you in your dealings with the policy-makers.

Engage in dialogue with policy-makers

Address your cause to ministerial bureaucrats and Members of Parliament, and demonstrate how your solutions and demands can contribute to the broader objective of achieving rapid and effective growth. If you make demands, make it clear what you will deliver. The time for complaining is over. Now, everyone should work together and emphasise their own contribution through positive communication.

Help to inspire majorities

Strong data and facts form the basis of every argument and cause worth supporting. However, people often forget this. Data and facts are a baseline necessity. If they are not correct, your cause and your communication with policy-makers and stakeholders will not be successful.

This is why, when it comes to long-term successful communication in the political and wider public arena, it is important to translate your quality data and facts into creative, emotionally appealing formats that work on various communication channels, are supported by many and are also backed by policy-makers. This is how you create majorities in favour of your cause and success for your undertaking.

Bernd Buschhausen, Managing Director

H/Advisors Deekeling Arndt

[email protected]