How can we increase the number of people who understand our project and move it forward?

I'm Sakon, and I often get involved in projects that involve many stakeholders, such as regional revitalization.

Many projects begin with a company's desire to "do something that can contribute to the local community."
However, the difficulty of contributing to the community lies in the fact that strong "passion" alone is often not enough.
This time, I'd like to talk about how to move such projects forward more effectively, drawing on my own experiences.

 

Projects cannot progress solely on the basis of "for the local community."

We sometimes receive inquiries from long-established local businesses that say, "We want to start a business that will give back to the local community."
However, simply providing money won't constitute a meaningful contribution to the community in a way that reflects the company's values, and it might even be perceived as mere corporate self-satisfaction.

For example, this project involves utilizing disused factories, warehouses, and idle land for the benefit of the local community.
For various reasons, I don't want to get rid of it, but if I keep it as is, I can't use it, and I'll have to pay maintenance costs and property taxes.

The idea is to use it to benefit the local community, but there are many things we need to consider, such as "Will local people actually use it?" and "Can we get cooperation from inside and outside the company?"

 

As the number of people involved increases, so do the "speculations."

What makes it even more difficult is that companies cannot make project decisions on their own.

For example, if there is unused land, local residents will wonder, "What can be done with it next?"
Some people may be worried that the construction of facilities that could affect the surrounding living environment, such as by increasing noise or traffic volume, may be a problem.
However, I'm also concerned about the building deteriorating without being used for anything.

The government has a role to play in listening to the voices of residents and addressing local issues.
Once the facility is completed, there are also the considerations of the people who will be responsible for its ongoing management and operation.

Businesses want to contribute to the community. Residents want to live in peace and security. The government wants to solve local problems. Operators want to run their facilities in a sustainable way.
From each person's perspective, all of these thoughts are perfectly understandable.

 

We will search for the "points of overlap" in our intentions.

When you look at them side by side like this, the intentions of each party involved may seem disparate. However, I believe there are clues here to moving the project forward.

The important thing is not to get them to agree with our viewpoint.
It's about understanding what each person wants to achieve and what they're worried about, and then thinking about how their goals can align.

For example, let's say a company redevelops unused land into a place where local residents can gather.

For residents, it creates space they can use. For the local government, it allows for land use that aligns with residents' needs.
Furthermore, by adding commercial facilities, it's possible to generate revenue that can cover the costs of operating and managing the facilities. And for companies, it allows them to make use of previously unused assets while contributing to the local community in a way that is unique to them.

The goal is for people who initially had different perspectives to come to understand that "this project has meaning."
I think this is what it means to increase the number of people who understand you.

 

You can't "persuade" someone to understand you.

In projects involving many people, opposing opinions and differing requests can sometimes feel like headwinds.

However, if you delve deeper into why that person thinks that way, you may find overlaps with the project.
If you can incorporate that point of contact into the project, the other party will become an understanding person and, at times, a powerful collaborator.

While I used community contribution as an example this time, the same principles apply to other projects as well.

First, who are the people involved? What do they want to achieve, and what are their anxieties?
And where do their respective intentions converge?

Finding a location that satisfies everyone involved is likely the first step to creating a successful project.