Communicate the problem with stakeholders

No doubt, you will have some difficult decisions and discussions down the line, so it is important to clearly communicate (without scare-mongering) the scale of the financial problem up front. Transparency is key not only to build trust and relationships, but it may also provide you with new opportunities. Imposing change without being clear why is likely to build a wall of resistance. It is hard enough to create a change culture in good times, let alone when times are tough, so start on the right foot.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) commissioned BritainThinks, in July 2010, to convene a Citizens' Jury and conduct a wider public opinion poll to consider 'Dealing with the Deficit' as part of the PwC response to the Spending Review 2010 consultation. The overarching objectives that defined this project were to:

arrive at a set of Citizens' Criteria to guide decision making by the Coalition Government's Star Chamber for reducing/reshaping welfare and for cutting departmental spending budgets;
assess and help refine a range of different ideas for transformative solutions; and
assess the level of support for the Citizens' Criteria amongst a large sample who have not had the benefit of participating.

http://www.pwcwebcast.co.uk/dpliv_mu/dealing_with_the_deficit/citizens_review.pdf

Communicate the problem with stakeholders

Engage and understand