As 2013 comes to a close, we are all surely thinking about how we can improve our lives in the new year, and there is no doubt that members of your community are thinking about what they would like to see improved as well. In the coming weeks, citizens will come to you with new suggestions for the community, and you will likely need to follow up with the community after reviewing those suggestions. Fortunately for all parties involved, the Knowledge Network’s Community Relations topic page is chock-full of resources, such as the ones below, about the best practices for interacting with your constituents.

• In “The Listening Imperative” from Local Government Manager, David Schultz discusses why the Internet is the new home of community engagement, and why fostering relations in this medium is an increasingly essential task.
• In their “Building Trust” action plan, the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and LG Communications offer a step-by-step strategy for increasing a community’s faith in its government’s initiatives.
• For media-driven community relations, consider the suggestions of Cambridge Leadership Associates in “Ten Tips Toward More Effective Media Relations.” Very sound advice!
• Having a set policy for social media interaction will ensure that no citizen’s concerns slip through the digital cracks. In “Online Publishing and Social Media Policy,” the City of Lake Forest, Illinois, provides a great example of a codified social media policy.
• If you’re seeking a less digital approach to engaging your community, “Engaging the Community in a Dialogue on Race and Racism,” a PM cover story, describes Lynchburg, Virginia’s “study circles” engagement method.

For information on staying in touch with the people you represent, consult the Community Relations topic page, and if you know of any helpful techniques for keeping a finger on the pulse of the members of your community, feel free to share them below. 

Aloha,

James Davidson

ICMA's Knowledge Network Intern

jdavidson@icma.org