We know how to make citizen and stakeholder dialogue successful.
Acceptance through Dialogue
As experienced consultants, we develop plannable communication and genuine dialogue for the successful implementation of infrastructure projects.
Our services
Strategic Consulting
At the beginning of a project, the question is WHY – the story and the individual benefits for citizens, politics and the economy. The added value must be credible and comprehensible.
- Developing the story
- Determining objectives for each stakeholder group
- Target group-specific argumentation and issue planning
- Campaign planning and management
Stakeholder Management
Who are the relevant stakeholders? And how and when do we need to talk to whom? And what does the silent majority think? It is important to know your target groups precisely.
- Stakeholder mapping: politics, citizens, media
- Argumentation map: local, regional, supraregional
- Identification of advocates and critics (e.g. NGOs, citizens’ groups)
- Stakeholder analysis and engagement
Dialogue Management
Genuine dialogue only comes about through open and transparent communication. We develop tailor-made formats for every target group – on traditional, digital and live channels.
- Conception of target group-specific formats such as events, political talks, media work, print and digital products.
- Coordination of implementation and timing
- Support of the entire dialogue process, active and reactive
- Civic dialogue, stakeholder dialogue, media work
Crisis Management
Through monitoring, we identify potential crises at an early stage and react quickly, professionally and efficiently thanks to targeted preparation.
- Project-specific online, media and social media monitoring.
- Preparatory measures such as FAQs, dark sites, drawer texts
- Recommendations for action
- Active crisis communication, 24/7 availability
Process Management
The project process must be presented in a comprehensible way – at an early stage, transparently and in dialogue. Successes and milestones should be derived and made visible on the ground.
- Definition of communication launch and milestones
- Planning the right formats at the right time
- Communicating successes and milestones
- Project management and control
Vorfreude-Management ® (Anticipation Management ®)
The after becomes the before: we show again and again how the goal improves people’s quality of life. Because acceptance is never as high as afterwards.
- Visualisations
- Videos / VR
- Virtual walk-throughs
Our experts
Dialogue is demanding
The main task of project communication is to synchronise central issues of the future with the will of the citizens. In times of activists and ad hoc journalists, there are rules of the game for the successful implementation of infrastructure projects. There are often positive arguments in favour of the project. What is lacking is the willingness to communicate this actively and consistently – and also to endure debates. That means: perseverance, flexibility, meticulousness and continuity. Today, it is not only the facts that count, but above all the perceived truth. Project communication must influence this – with facts and emotions.
Communication determines project success
Projects often fail because those responsible miss the right moment to start the public dialogue. What comes next? Rumours circulate, the media pick up on citizens’ rejection of a project and question it, and political support dwindles. If you want to gain acceptance for infrastructure projects or corporate buildings, you need good arguments and the right formats to communicate them.
Rules for constructive civil dialogue
Modern civic dialogue steers the process in speed and interpretative authority and synchronises all measures at the right pace. The focus is on the question: Who is my target group, with which formats and on which channels do I reach them? Successful dialogue starts early, requires a flexible project process and is continuous and precise. To promote public acceptance, the arguments must be given a face: Stakeholder dialogue is a matter for the boss. This underlines credibility and creates trust. Depending on the attitude of the respective stakeholder group – neutral, optimistic, critical – project communication pursues different goals: convincing content, reinforcing a position, refuting arguments. Planned and seriously practised dialogue leads to the goal.
Campaign planning: arguments and formats are coordinated with each other
A need for participation, corporate bashing in social media, professionally organised NGOs – if you think your project is agreeable, you have to know your environment very well. Even supposedly future-oriented projects – energy transition, renewable energies, security of supply – fail if the developer does not take his responsibility for dialogue seriously and if arguments are not repeatedly shared and discussed on all channels.