Mining companies traditionally only speak when they have to, sharing updates when milestones are reached or defending themselves when controversy arises. In between, silence.
But silence leaves space for others to define your story. In today’s climate of scrutiny and misinformation, strong stakeholder relationships depend on consistent, credible communication, not sporadic or reactionary responses.
At PRA, we see it time and again: the mining companies that lead conversations, rather than chase them, earn greater trust, support, and resilience when challenges come.
Here are eight ways to take control of your external messaging and build lasting stakeholder buy-in.
1. Anticipate, Don’t React
Effective communication starts long before issues arise. Map your stakeholders, align internal teams, and plan messages early. When you lead the narrative, you control the tone.
2. Start with a Real Baseline
Stakeholder lists and spreadsheets don’t replace real relationships. Ground your communications in firsthand conversations, local research, and community feedback, not assumptions.
3. Align from the Inside Out
Credibility begins internally. When leadership, investor relations, and operations share a single message and tone, the organization projects confidence and coherence and avoids costly walk-backs.
4. Communicate with Care, Concern, and Commitment
Facts build credibility, but care builds trust. Frame every message around empathy and follow-through. Communities don’t just want to hear what you know – they want to see what you’re doing.
5. Equip Your Allies
Supporters should never be caught off-guard. Give employees, contractors, and partners clear, consistent language to explain your company’s purpose, progress, and performance. Every update should help them answer the questions they’ll face on your behalf.
6. Keep It Consistent
Stakeholders notice patterns. A steady, transparent presence, even when there’s little “news”, earns more trust than bursts of communication followed by silence.
7. Set the Tone Early
Engage before permits, before funding, before assumptions form. Early dialogue shapes expectations, builds credibility, and reduces resistance at critical stages of project development.
The Bottom Line
Better messaging isn’t spin, it’s strategy. When mining companies lead with clarity, alignment, and genuine care, they strengthen their social licence and set the tone for constructive, long-term relationships with the communities that matter most.
