Technical, scientific and public involvement professionals
should:
1. Form a tight team, characterized by mutual respect.
2. Agree on the objectives of the public involvement program
and how input will be used.
3. Identify and form relations with key stakeholders, including
those who:
- Perceive they will benefit from the project;
- Perceive they will be impacted by the project; and
- Have been actively involved in similar projects in the community.
4. Communicate clearly in lay terms without technical jargon.
5. Listen and understand stakeholder concerns. Put yourself
in their shoes.
6. Be responsive. Return calls and answer letters promptly.
7. Be flexible. Creative solutions can appear if you’re
open to them.
8. Make promises only if you can deliver, and then keep them.
9. Work with your public involvement consultant to understand
how and when to use the many techniques in the public involvement
discipline.
10. Provide feedback to citizens so they know you heard their
concerns and so they know how their input will be used.
