This document discusses strategies for engaging with the public in a respectful manner. It advocates using an approach called RESPECT, which stands for being relevant, engaging, sincere, prepared, expert, collaborative and transparent. The document provides tips for applying these principles, such as thinking like a member of the public, being honest and vulnerable, sharing information, respecting people's time and concerns, and following up. It argues that using RESPECT can help address issues like fear, distrust and opposition, and instead promote trust, collaboration and positive outcomes.

1. Hugging the Angry Mob
A Radically Positive Approach to Public Engagement

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62% Canadian business
51% Canadian gov’t

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Angry Mob
Others
Government’s
Angry Mob 49%
Business’s
Angry Mob 38%
Angry Mob
Others

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Fear=Anger. Anger=Fear

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takes years to build,
seconds to break
and forever to repair.
TRUST

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R Relevant
E Engaging
S Sincere
P Prepared
E Expert
C Collaborative
T Transparent
RESPECT turns “Us vs. Them” into WE

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Have you been part of a
project or issue that
failed to engage with
RESPECT?
How did the absence of
RESPECT impact the
situation?

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Engage with RESPECT
Clarify Purpose Plan Process
Communicate Promote Share Followup
Connect Engage Inform Inspire

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SHARE with RESPECT Values for Positive Engagement
Engage with RESPECTSHARE your concerns
Relevant
Engaging
Sincere
Prepared
Expert
Collaborative
Transparent
Solutions-oriented
Helpful discussion
Accurate information
Respectful dialogue
Engaged Listening

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1. Think like a member of the public
2. Invite everyone to the table and
earn their trust
3. Be real. Be honest. Be vulnerable.
4. Share and relate
5. Respect their time and concerns
6. Invite community members to
lead engagement programs
7. Not all great ideas cost $$$$$
8. Embrace community knowledge
9. Know the issue – past & present
10. Ask for and answer all questions
20 Tips for Engaging with RESPECT
11. Don’t fear your own information
12. Engage through celebration
13. Express gratitude
14. Maintain your integrity – always
15. Ask your community to be advocates
and ambassadors
16. Ask the community to help make your
project better
17. Meet with your adversaries
18. Work grassroots up & leadership down
19. Be the most positive person in the room
20. Follow up and follow through

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RESPECT – the antidote to:
NIMBYs Not In My BackYard
NIABYs Nothing In Anyone’s
BackYard
BANANAs Build Absolutely
Nothing Anywhere
Near Anywhere
CAVERs Citizens Against
Virtually Everything
NOPEs Not On Planet Earth
RESPECT addresses:
FOMO Fear of Missing Out
WIIFM What’s In It For Me
DUDEs Developers Under
Delusions of
Entitlement
And results in:
YIMBYs Yes! In My BackYard

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Trust
Collaboration
Collective success
Co-creation and innovation
Positive thinking and better solutions
Enhanced relationships and reputation
Engaging with RESPECT results in
Leveraging the Power of Community

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Engage with RESPECT
Where will you apply the
RESPECT approach to a
current issue, project or
stakeholder group to
improve the relationship
or outcome?
Exchange your idea and
email address and share
outcomes in a week.
R Relevant
E Engaging
S Sincere
P Prepared
E Expert
C Collaborative
T Transparent

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21 QUESTIONS FOR RESPECTFUL ENGAGEMENT
Relevant § Is information timely, meaningful and straightforward?§ Are issues clear and is the engagement strategy relevant to the
audience?
§ Are external factors or issue of historical importance presented?Engaging § Is the information informative and well presented in plain language?
§ Does it present data using accessible charts, statistics and
comparisons?
§ Are the presenters clear, compelling, enthusiastic, relatable, positive,
respectful?
Sincere
Strategic
§ Is the engagement intended to inform and consult or is it simple
exercise in “must do”?
§ Will public input and concerns be applied to the situation?§ Is the engagement strategy efficient, targeted to the right people,
inclusive, at the right time?
Prepared
Positive
§ Is the information complete and the team ready to engage with
participants?
§ Is the information presented with positivity and clarity?§ Do you invite participants to share ideas on how to meet the
challenges?
Expert
Empowering
§ Are subject matter experts prepared with all relevant information at
the ready?
§ Is the process empowering and motivating for participants?§ Do they understand how their input will be applied?Collaborative § Is the process collaborative with a respectful exchange of ideas?
§ Are participants encouraged to provide their ideas or offer alternative
solutions?
§ Is input welcomed and encouraged with enthusiasm?Transparent § Is the information, objectives and input process clear to the
participants?
§ Are both benefits and the risks conveyed?§ Are timelines and next steps understood by all?
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15 QUESTIONS FOR SHARING RESPECTFUL DIALOGUE
Solutions-
oriented
§ Are all participants committed to finding an acceptable solution?§ Are all participants productive in their comments and ideas, with an
understanding of the project’s parameters and decision-makingcriteria?
§ Are participants working collaboratively to understand all issues and
possible solutions?
Helpful
discussion
§ Are participants bringing forward only relevant and topical concerns?§ Are participants collaborating on ideas that are achievable within the
project scope?
§ Are participants respecting the engagement values of SHARE and
RESPECT?
Accurate
information
§ Are participants referencing accurate and factual information?§ Are participants expressing their concerns in such a way that the
engagement hosts clearly understand the issues?§ Are participants receiving easy to understand, accurate, up to date
information?
Respectful
Dialogue
§ Are the participants using respectful language to communicate with
the hosts and each other?
§ Are participants respecting the engagement process, allowing for
inclusive participation?
§ Are participants respecting the right of everyone to be heard?Engaging
Listening
§ Are participants focusing on one speaker at a time, allowing them to
be heard?
§ Are participants actively listening (rather than readying their rebuttal
as someone else is speaking)?
§ Do participants clearly understanding the information presented and if
not, are they encouraged to ask questions?

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If there is any one secret of success, it lies in
the ability to get the other person’s point of
view and see things from that person’s
angle as well as from your own.
Coming together is a beginning;
keeping together is progress;
working together is success.
~ Henry Ford