Reflection 49 of 52: Is there an ideal way to consult?
December 08, 2014
Aside from the fact I live in Burnaby, I am keenly interested in
the Kinder Morgan pipeline project from a communications perspective.
The recent full page ads adorned with the big, bold headline
"Let's talk" got my attention. They promoted a telephone town hall
which prompted me to check out the dialogue on their website. You can go back
and listen to the previous town hall discussions.
There is a high expectation around consultation today, no matter
what the topic. The Kinder Morgan President says he has talked directly to
thousands of people. They claim over 1,600 people registered to participate in
the National Energy Board process. They also claim to have reached agreements
with 18 Aboriginal groups to date. They say they have been consulting for two
years. Their corporate ad campaign is filling the airwaves and print
publications with promises of more opportunities to talk.
The media have been covering the story. Groups and individuals
come out of the woodwork to stress concerns and even present alternatives.
Protests, arrests and lawsuits have been top news for weeks. And still, people
say their concerns have not been heard.
So is it just fundamental differences of opinion and ideologies
or is it a need for better ways to consult? I am not sure I know the answer.
What I expect is that most people don't attend live town halls or even
easy-access ones on the telephone. Any town hall I have attended over the years
seemed to be mostly comprised of the super angry or vehemently opposed and not
too many there just to listen or find out new information.
So how does a company or public sector group engage in a
meaningful dialogue today? What does that look like for most people? There is
more and more effort going into getting feedback via surveys or vehicles such
as PlaceSpeak. In the last civic election, community
groups expressed their frustration in Vancouver over urban planning
consultation processes and are demanding more dialogue. Politicians talk about
meaningful consultation, but what does that look like?
How do businesses or public institutions create a good dialogue
and actually have the community influence what happens in their backyard... and
in their world. When I hear the National Energy Board is even opening an office
in Vancouver to create more dialogue, it makes me wonder how that will unfold.
I have talked to a number of people on both sides of these
fences and know there is often the intent to have a good exchange.
Sometimes they are just ticking off the consultation box, but generally I think
there is a desire to create a good process. Overall, am just not sure it
is working, for anybody. Even when companies pour buckets of money into
"talking", people are still angry and frustrated.
It is akin to the premise we are taught to talk but not to
communicate. I am on the hunt for effective consultation tools and processes.
Please share any good methods you have experienced via this blog or dm me @ dellas@shaw.ca
So to answer the lead-in question, I am not sure there is an ideal way to consult but I am determined to find it.
So to answer the lead-in question, I am not sure there is an ideal way to consult but I am determined to find it.
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