While many people may disagree on their political beliefs, the power that those in leadership positions have is indisputable. Occasionally, these people in positions of power forget that they serve and should listen to the people that voted them into office. We are glad that some people are welcome to open communication that can truly create change for our great nation.
As recently reported in Defense News, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis established himself as one of those collaborative leaders whom listens. He also encourages others in government to expand collaboration between the government and our private industries. Secretary Mattis said that when he ascended to his current position, he met with many industry professionals and was open to advisement – something they didn’t previously see as an option.
Mattis is quoted as telling Defense News, “I want to encourage all of you, strictly within ethical regulations: do not have imaginary legal restrictions on your leadership responsibility to find the best bang for the buck, the most far reaching innovations are out there.”
The Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP) applauds this practice and encourages all government leaders to expand their communications to all in industry. APMP sees this as not only a huge step in the right direction, but as good advice to ensure fair, open, and better government-procurement. Secretary Mattis’s suggestion of collaboration between private industry and government will help to bridge a large gap that has been growing for years. If other branches of the government join the Department of Defense in this initiative, we could continue to bring expert advice from private industry to the government. APMP’s Procurement Improvement Committee has made its mission to improve better government and industry collaboration, and have been educating federal procurement officials to do this for years.
The “approach” to open collaboration between our private industry and government in the past has improved our economy immensely. In a post-World War II America, the economy was booming thanks in part to a successful collaboration with private industry and government throughout the war effort. During the era of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, many government programs sought to work with private industries to improve the infrastructure of our country. FDR also encouraged the diversification of private industry which helped build a strong foundation for our nation’s future.
Though we’ve come a long way from FDR’s America, things have changed drastically and APMP thinks Secretary Mattis has it right. We should relax the imaginary legal restrictions that we’ve built between industry and government and start talking with one another.
James Humes once said “The art of communication is the language of leadership” and we agree. With more communication at the highest level, it will encourage more communication throughout the industry and government and build better relationships for a better future. Only good comes from government collaboration with industry, and we want to build that collaboration and bring more good to our nation.
APMP wants to thank secretary Mattis for noticing this disconnect and speaking openly about the positive change he wants to see.
Rick Harris, CF APMP, is the Executive Director of the Association of Proposal Management Professionals. During his tenure, the association has nearly tripled in size and now serves bid and proposal professionals around the world. He can be reached at rick.harris@apmp.org.
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