DO:Â Developing Relationships with Stakeholders
As with any relationship that we develop, whether personal or in business, the relationship between an operator and their stakeholders has some basic requirements and takes some work to get right.
Basic requirements for entering a relationship include an expectation that all parties will act in good faith and prioritize the relationship’s best interests. Following this foundation, the relationship’s dynamics unfold, marked by transparency, opportunities for meaningful engagement, and trust among all involved parties.
In RP 1185, that means stakeholders’ involvement is sought and facilitated their contributions are considered, they feel heard, and their concerns are understood and recognized. It also assumes that both operators and stakeholders will respond to each other in a timely manner, helping to further develop their relationships and the trust between them.
While sharing requested information with stakeholders is foundational to effective engagement, there may be instances where an operator is unable to disclose certain information. In alignment with the evolving relationship, when an operator receives an information request, they are encouraged to have a conversation with the stakeholder, if needed, to understand the reasoning behind the request. The operator should provide the information they can share and, when applicable, simply explain what they cannot share and why. Figure 4, Pipeline Information Sharing Process, in RP 1185 illustrates a process to engage in conversation with a stakeholder to clearly understand their information request, determine what information can (or can’t) be shared, and respond to the stakeholder.