A SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK FOR CONTROVERSIAL PROJECTS

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CHECK OUT MY LATEST NATIONAL ARTICLE FEATURED IN THE 2019 SPRING ADDITION OF NAIOP DEVELOPMENT MAGAZINE. A SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK FOR CONTROVERSIAL PROJECTS

Excerpt: 

Turning public conflict into corporate goodwill requires thoughtful strategies and genuine concern for the local community. 

When it came to battle, Napoleon famously said that he preferred engaging the same adversary over and over, because he would become familiar with their tactics and use that knowledge against them. In the case of real estate development, those who are opposed to a project can have the upper hand, much like Napoleon, in exploiting developers’ rigid, often predictable business practices.

Development opposition frequently relies on confrontation. It’s no coincidence that the David vs. Goliath story template is replayed in thousands of media reports every year. Oppositional groups cannot exist without the confrontation and conflict that stokes political crisis. Therefore, an applicant operating under an “us vs. them” attitude unknowingly plays into the hands of those who wish to stoke conflict.

To turn public conflict into corporate goodwill, land-use professionals must resist the tendency to put themselves in a combative public posture with the opposition. This approach is counterintuitive for many in the industry, but exhibiting non-confrontational actions will effectively take the wind out of the sails of the opposition. While it can be useful for developers to host informational sessions with the community before any formal votes on a project, it’s important that they gain awareness about the notice-and-hearing process.

READ THE FULL NAIOP ARTICLE CLICK__HERE.

WHO IS PATRICK SLEVIN?

SPEAKER, CONSULTANT, AUTHOR: For over 20 years, Patrick Slevin has successfully counseled corporate leaders of Fortune 500 companies, trade associations, and developers who've faced billions of dollars of economic loss from man-made crises to natural disasters.  Patrick has spoken as keynote, workshop and panelist speaker before real estate organizations including ULI, NAIOP, ICSC, CREW, BOMA, APA, as well as builders, affordable housing, energy, local chambers, EDCs, municipalities and corporations.    

Patrick Slevin is a former Florida mayor.  He is a two-time winner of the PRSA Silver Anvil Award of Excellence for Crisis & Issues Management.  Influence Magazine named Slevin one of the "Great Communicators".  Slevin has been recognized by Campaigns & Elections Magazine as one of the nation’s top political “Movers’ & Shakers". He is the founder and head of Florida-based SL7 Consulting. 

MORE ON PATRICK SLEVIN CLICK HERE OR PATRICKSLEVIN.COM