To build transparency and trust with stakeholders in a complex project, we should focus on clear communication, setting realistic expectations, involving stakeholders early, providing regular progress reports, and nurturing personal relationships. These strategies ensure that stakeholders feel informed, valued, and confident in the project's direction.

I work with many Tribes in California. We moved away from the term stakeholder and replaced it with interested parties. Terminology is important. You have to meet groups where they are using iconography, language, and color schemes that do not offend or start you off on the wrong foot from the start. Translation services is key. Using plain language without oversimplifying to cause insult is also important. To build trust, it has to be earned. If you come in with an air of being better than or not caring enough to provide basic services or researching what is offensive, you’ll never earn trust from the communities you’re there to help. Terminology, iconology, and color scheme research will start off right.

Transparency is about telling the truth. “Truth will make you Free” is the Fundamental Principle of Transparency.Then and only then you can build Trust.

One thing I have found important is the identification of the stakeholders very early in the project life cycle and contacting them very early, initially to introduce yourself and the project. You may have limited information to share at this stage, but important to show you understand and value their input to the project. They may have valuable historical information or might bring in other perspectives or “ out of the box” solutions. Building initial relationships, information sharing or breaking communication barriers is also crucial for the success of your project.

Time. Time to build relationships, understanding and mutual respect. Time to work through angst and concerns and show you are listening through the development process, making changes where mutually agreed upon. Time to understand what's important and how you can reach compromise. Time to build respect friendships and trust. Time to deliver and follow through with those compromises and agreements, implementing without change. Maintaing throughout the life cycle of the project.