Shedding the Negative Image

Time and time again within companies, regulatory departments have been known as roadblocks to progress. Perhaps it is because other departments do not really understand the regulatory process and have no intention of learning anything about it.

The responsibility of conformance to regulations often turns into what others consider a barrier to getting a product to market. Often, they do not understand that lack of conformance could have far-reaching effects on everyone.

Since there is no guarantee those in marketing, engineering and sales finally will come to realize that what we do is for the benefit of us all, is there anything that can be done to lessen the negative stigma regulatory departments often bear?

When I started with my current company, I found myself in an anti-regulatory environment. It took some time, but I believe that we now have reached a point of mutual respect between regulatory and other departments.

Here are some suggestions that helped me to shed the negative image some of my colleagues had of regulatory.

Join the Team

If regulatory is not already part of project teams, get yourself invited. It may mean more meetings for you or others in your department, but in the long run it will keep regulatory objectives in the same room with other project priorities.

By participating, you can learn about any deviations in the project and deal with them in real time rather than later when the project is too far off track. Having no surprises is always a good thing.

Make Needs Known Early

Provide the team leader with a regulatory assessment at the beginning of a project. Be as specific as possible. Outline everything you will need to compile a solid submission and specify from whom who you need these items.

If the project leader knows early what is expected, you will be helping the team create a strong and realistic plan that, hopefully, will keep you from chasing documents at the last minute.

Take a Moment

Although you may be buried in a time-consuming assignment, take a little time each day to address the simple non-priority requests and questions from others. Getting them completed will help the person who needs the information go on with his task, and it will be something you can check off your list. It will also assuage any perception that you are slow to respond.

Find Alternatives

Creativity is not a word found in typical job descriptions for regulatory positions. However, there are times when the answer does not have to be a definite "no."

Working with colleagues to find an alternative approach can often reveal an optional and realistic path. Even if your final answer is still "no," the individual will at the least see that you made an attempt to get to "yes." Sometimes you do get credit for the effort.

Be Thankful

A solid regulatory submission is the result of efforts from multiple departments. When the clearances and approvals are granted, don't forget to acknowledge the people outside regulatory who assisted.

Make sure the individuals they report to know about the help that was provided. It is surprising how far a simple email of appreciation will go.

Stand Your Ground

In the end, the regulatory department has the responsibility of making sure a company stays compliant even if it means standing up to everyone else to make sure the right thing is done.

At the end of the day, you will know you did the right thing and maybe a few others will realize that you take your job seriously. As a result, you may earn some respect-and even more when you are proven right.

Conclusion

Following these suggestions will take effort on your part. Some may work, some may not. But the goal of creating better working relationships is a worthy one, and it may make your job easier.

Building respect will keep you from feeling like you are going into battle each time you have to deal with another department. Also, mutual respect yields trust, and once this is established, you may find other departments coming to you for regulatory insight rather than trying to find a path around regulatory.

A little bit of effort may reap great results for everyone. "It's the constant and determined effort that breaks down all resistance, sweeps away all obstacles." - Claude M. Bristol