While no "foolproof" formula exists for building a constructive and proactive dialogue with citizens, social acceptability is primarily based on human relationships grounded in mutual trust, infused with sensitivity and openness.
Since each project, community, region, and sociopolitical ecosystem is unique, the key lies in being transparent and adaptable. TACT can support you throughout a social acceptability project, with one key objective: to establish and maintain a constructive dialogue with communities.
Social Acceptability for Maintaining a Constructive Dialogue with Communities
TACT is defined by a deeply human approach, guided by values of respect, rigour, and curiosity. We understand the importance of offering personalized solutions to our clients, who come from all walks of life and various backgrounds.
Social Acceptability and Public Participation
Making Connections and Building Relationships
Putting the concept of social acceptability into practice is not just about public relations—it’s about making genuine human connections. It requires a consistent community presence and becoming a part of the community. For a project to be socially accepted, it needs the following:
- A good project
- Strong leaders
- A willingness to make compromises
- Active listening and empathy
Designing an Educational Approach
First and foremost, it is essential to establish a communication sequence to inform, explain, and willingly and naturally foster engagement. It is also important to embody unwavering leadership. Finally, opting for an educational approach is key to presenting the project, the need it addresses, and the added value it brings to the host community.
Public Participation Process
Information sessions, workshops, surveys, or focus groups: TACT has the expertise and sensitivity required to organize and facilitate public consultations, as well as to analyze the findings and help build consensus.
Design Thinking Workshop
What is Design Thinking? Design Thinking is an innovation management method. It initially emerged in engineering, with the aim of encouraging engineers to consider the real-life experiences of their product users, while also integrating insights from experts in other disciplines.
By arranging these workshops, participants will be guided to empathetically understand the needs, desires, and challenges of the various stakeholders involved in your project. This approach has the advantage of fostering stakeholder engagement, creativity, and innovation, while ensuring that the solutions developed truly address the needs and aspirations of all parties involved.
Public Consultation Strategy
Whether your organization wishes to engage in a public consultation with the Office de consultation publique de Montréal (OCPM), the Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement (BAPE) or the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC), TACT banks on customized strategies to ensure that your point of view is understood and that you can seamlessly move towards your objectives.
Community Relations
Thanks to its 360° approach, TACT develops communication tools specific to the reality of each community and environment, to reach target audiences where they are, using the most appropriate means, such as liaison committees, newsletters, digital communications, or door-to-door information distribution.
