Welcome to Econnect Communication’s February 2003 newsletter. Thanks to those who provided us with feedback about Econnect’s revamped website – we’ve already made some changes based on your feedback. Have another look at http://www.econnect.com.au

The theme for this month’s newsletter is “Making partnerships work”. This reflects the increasing push and trend in science and natural resource management for partnerships to be formed – with other organisations, with communities and with individuals.

As always, we welcome your feedback.

Regards,

The team at Econnect Communication

(Lin Martin, Jenni Metcalfe, Louise Ralph, Michelle Riedlinger on assignment in South Africa )

THIS MONTH – February 2003

MAKING PARTNERSHIPS WORK

1. PARTNERSHIPS: ARE THEY GENUINE?

2. ARE YOU REALLY LISTENING?

3. FEATURES OF EFFECTIVE FORMAL PARTNERSHIPS

4. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

5. CONTACT US

1. PARTNERSHIPS: ARE THEY GENUINE

or just a NRM buzzword? By Lin Martin

It seems obvious now that if agencies want to facilitate better environmental management, then effective community partnerships are the key. After all, individuals and groups in the community are often the main resource users/on ground managers with the most comprehensive local knowledge - and have a ‘heart’ investment by living in that community and doing what they do.

But relationships of trust take time and resources to build, especially if there is a past history of miscommunication or conflict.

As consultants we often act as an interface between agency and community on many projects. We’ve often seen that commitment to true partnerships is lacking on both sides, but really it is up to the agency to nurture the partnership.

Mostly there is lack of recognition about what a true partnership entails, and the time and resources it will take to make it happen. That recognition is hardly ever obvious in the budgets or timeliness attached to projects. Here are some points to consider if partnership building is one of your tasks.

Know yourself. Be brutally honest about what you and your agency want to achieve. What is in it for the partners? Are you abdicating responsibility because resources are short and the community could pick up the shortfall? Is the partnership genuine at all levels of management or just lip service? Do you have enough resources and time at your disposal?
Know your partners. Who in the community should be the partners? Which groups and individuals are truly representative? What are their agendas for being involved? How can they best work with you?
Clarify roles and responsibilities. Partners need to clearly know how they can contribute, how their contributions will be valued and used. And equally they need to know what the agency will bring to the project.
Outline clear communication channels and obligations. Too often we hear “they consulted and that’s the last we heard”. Partners need to be kept informed on project progress, findings, and outcomes. It is simply a matter of respect. And communication should continue in some form, even when the project is over. Don’t drop your partners as soon as the music stops.
Provide partners with the resources they need so they can participate. This might include information, education, funds for photocopying, interpreters, transport, childcare or skills development.

2. ARE YOU REALLY LISTENING

By Louise Ralph

If you think communication is all talk,

you haven't been listening - Ashleigh Brilliant

Listening is risky business. If you really listen to what people are saying, you risk understanding more - and even changing your opinion. We are all very attached to our opinions, and much more inclined to give them out than to take new ideas on board.

Politics and religion are two volatile areas because they involve strongly established belief bases. Many of us also hold passionate opinions about issues like abortion, racism, GMOs, or sustainability issues like tree-clearing and water as a limited resource vs farmer's historical right to water. How many of us really listen to another's point of view on any of these subjects?

Our biggest hurdle in the art of listening is to approach communication with an open mind. And it is harder work than we imagine, given that we filter every interaction through our preconceptions.

The first step in really listening is to stop talking yourself! Here are a few more ways to work on those listening skills:

· Pay full attention to what's being said rather than formulating your next comment or making mental notes about a meeting, project deadline --- or what's for dinner

· Keep your body language relaxed and open

· Try to achieve a comfortable level of eye contact (glazed eyes are a dead giveaway!)

· Clarify meaning by echoing words, paraphrasing, or restating

· Don’t interrupt. Let the person finish what they are saying (break this rule for long-winded people who are simply talking at you – listening, like phone lines, works both ways)

· Be as interested in hearing what's being said as you are in telling the person what you think

Pick up more quick communication tips at our website http://www.econnect.com.au/news_qt.htm

3. FEATURES OF EFFECTIVE FORMAL PARTNERSHIPS

By Jenni Metcalfe

The past 15 years has seen the rise of formal partnerships such as the Cooperative Research Centre Program, the Murray-Darling Basin Commission and cross-Divisional programs within CSIRO.

These partnerships have been brought about by the need for organisations, departments and projects to:

Avoid duplicating research
Work across State or organisational boundaries
Bring together different scientific disciplines to tackle a problem
Better integrate scientific, social and economic research and knowledge
Link research better with end-users – whether they be agency managers or commercial interests

As environment and science communication consultants, we have observed and been involved in assisting such partnerships. Based on this experience, the following characteristics appear to be features of the most effective partnerships.

The unique activities/services provided by the partnership, as opposed to the existing activities of the individual partners, is made explicit and each partner is aware of how the partnership adds value to their own activities
The partnership has a strong leader who motivates the partners to make things happen
The leader is supported by someone who can provide high level administrative and logistic support so that the leader is free to create, maintain and further develop networks within and between partner organisations, and with other related organisations
There is a genuine commitment by each partner to the partnership – demonstrated by both cash and time allocated by those involved (5 or even 10% of someone’s time is not a genuine commitment)
There is effective internal communication about the activities of the partnership throughout each partner organisation (i.e. it’s not just the senior Board members who are aware and involved)
There is a demonstrated commitment by all partners to keep the other partners informed of activities and progress
The partnership has established a set of agreed and shared communication messages
The partnership has a plan for its joint activities that has been developed and committed to by all partners
The partnership has established agreed protocols for external communication about joint activities
Regular evaluation of partnership activities has been built into planning processes

4. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE MONTHLY e-NEWSLETTER

Subscribe/unsubscribe: send email to admin@econnect.com.au with “subscribe” or “unsubscribe” in subject line.

View past newsletters: http://www.econnect.com.au/news_newsletter.htm

5. CONTACT US

Econnect Communication works with science, environment, ecotourism and natural resource management agencies to:

evaluate and develop communication strategies
write and design products that meet audience needs
run workshops that train staff and management in communication skills

Contact us: phone 07 3846 7111; email admin@econnect.com.au

Website: http://www.econnect.com.au

Articles in this newsletter can be reproduced if Econnect Communication Pty Ltd

is acknowledged as the source