There are two ways to use the word “engagement.”
The first way is to promise yourself to someone else. To devote yourself to another entirely. To voluntarily betroth your mind, body and soul to a mutually beneficial union that’s meant to last an eternity.
The second way is to declare war. To battle with an enemy. To fight.
If you’re a planner, policy-maker or politician (P3 for short) you already know that part of your job is public engagement. And hopefully you’re using the word “engagement” to mean devotion rather than hostility.
Problem is, honest devotion miscommunicated often leads to war.
The trick isn’t just to devote yourself to the public (though that’s important).
The trick is to communicate and demonstrate that devotion to such a high degree that no one will mistakenly believe your intentions are otherwise.
You can earn the trust and goodwill of people through creative marketing, honest selling and compelling story-telling . . .
Image by flickr user Halina Ward.
. . . or you can alienate the people you’re trying to help by giving them shop-worn, inauthentic clichés and pictures of Snooki in a pantsuit:
"Seriously though . . . if you don't fill out this voluntary survey, I will ruin you."
It’s your choice. Just remember: People may not have the greatest sense of smell, but they can smell artifice a hundred miles away.
Want more? Purchase Cable Car Confidential: The Essential Guide to Cable Cars, Urban Gondolas & Cable Propelled Transit and start learning about the world's fastest growing transportation technologies.
