10 Common Myths about Community Relations

1

We won't need consent or support from our local government officials or local community.
Many organizations have learned the importance of community relations the hard way when they have tried to clean up sites; get permits; and site, expand and operate facilities. It is difficult to put a dollar value on community relations until negative relations threaten or jeopardize a company's goals or operations. Organizations often do not allocate sufficient resources to community relations until it is too late. Unresolved conflicts which result from inadequate communication or poor relations can result in ugly and expensive ramifications for companies including injunctions from localities, permit denials, delays in projects, negative press, cease and desist orders, law suits, new legislation, etc. Community relations is much more rewarding and well received than crisis management.

2

We will be stirring up trouble if we talk to the community.
Many project managers are afraid to talk with the community because they are afraid that they will make things worse by stirring up issues that might not already exist. It generally works the opposite. In fact, they are usually flattered and disarmed (and maybe a tad suspicious) when organizations care enough to talk with them. If you have never initiated dialogue before, you can expect the first few times to be contentious as negatives comments, complaints and fears are expressed. But if you are committed to establishing and maintaining good relations, you have the opportunity to turn those negative comments into positive, or at least neutral and balanced, ones. That is, if you organization's plans are solid. Proactive community relations efforts are very rewarding and can actually make your job much easier in the future. You can even establish yourself as a leader in the community.

3

We can improve relations with one-way communications efforts (without interaction with interested parties).
If your company or facility is experiencing negative press or strained relations with the community, controlled one-way communication is not the answer. Human nature causes us to want to play it close to the chest. Productive (and perhaps facilitated) interaction is necessary to allow both parties to work through and resolve the issues. Many conflicts are caused by a lack of information, misinformation, different interpretations, stereotypes, repetitive negative behavior, a perception of different interests. Many of these conflicts can only be resolved through improved, effective communication and joint problem solving which can only occur through interaction and dialogue.

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We need to do a better job communicating the technical issues.
Don't underestimate the value of the trust and credibility factors that are less technically based: caring and empathy, commitment, openness and honesty. Messages that communicate these are much more powerful in relations building than technical knowledge.