Community Engagement Events

In 2021, I proposed an initiative I thought was brilliant—it would help my team make faster progress and better leverage each member's unique skills. Brilliant, right? Yet, it didn’t take off. Many ideas or initiatives fail because we struggle to gain buy-in. The reasons for resistance are many, but Rick Maurer simplifies them into three core categories: (1) "I don’t get it" Resistance here is about lack of understanding or information. People may not fully grasp the reasons behind the change, its benefits, or the implementation plan. This often leaves them feeling confused or unsure about the impact. (2) "I don’t like it" This is rooted in a dislike for the change itself. People might feel it disrupts their comfort zones, poses a negative impact, or clashes with personal values or interests. (3) "I don’t like YOU." This is about the messenger, not the message. Distrust or lack of respect for the person initiating the change can create a barrier. It might stem from past experiences, perceived incompetence, or lack of credibility. When I work with leaders to identify which category resistance falls into, the clarity that follows helps us take targeted, practical steps to overcome it. - To address the "I don't get it" challenge, focus on clear, accessible communication. Share the vision, benefits, and roadmap in a way that resonates. Use stories, real-life examples, or data to make the case relatable and tangible. Give people space to ask questions and clarify concerns—often, understanding alone can build alignment. - To address the "I don't like it" challenge, emphasize empathy. Acknowledge potential impacts on routines, comfort zones, or values, and seek input on adjustments that could reduce disruption. If possible, give people a sense of control over aspects of the change; this builds buy-in by involving them directly in shaping the solution. - And to address the "I don't like you" challenge, solving for the other two challenges will help. You can also openly address past issues, if relevant, and demonstrate genuine commitment to transparency and collaboration Effective change isn’t just about the idea—it’s about knowing how to bring people along with you. #change #ideas #initiatives #collaboration #innovation #movingForward #progress #humanBehavior

You can’t do community engagement on a deadline. I came across a contract offer recently. It was a community engagement ‘task and finish’ project over 2 months. But community work doesn’t work like that. If you want genuine engagement then you need trust and trust isn’t a task on a Gantt chart. People don’t open up when the timeline says so, they open up when they feel safe. Genuine relationships don’t form during engagement events. They grow in conversations after the meeting has ended, during those ‘water cooler’ moments, at the school gates chats, on the walk back to the car. If your timeline has a fixed slot for “community engagement,” ask different questions: Who already has trust here and are they in the room? Where do people naturally gather and are we showing up there? Are we listening to meet a deadline or to understand what’s really going on? Community engagement isn’t the soft bit before delivery, it is THE work. It’s slow, human, and sometimes uncomfortable. But when people start to trust the process, everything else moves further and faster than any deadline could force. Please repost if you believe others need to hear this. #CommunityDevelopment #CoDesign #Trust

As an entrepreneur, I’ve learned that success is never achieved alone—it’s built with a team. One of the most important things I’ve come to understand is the power of celebrating wins together, inclusively. It’s not just about recognizing results; it’s about building a culture where every voice is valued and everyone feels part of the journey. Inclusive celebrations create connection and belonging. When every team member—regardless of their role, background, or tenure—is celebrated for their contributions, you’re not just marking a milestone, you're reinforcing a shared purpose. This recognition doesn’t have to be elaborate, but it does need to be genuine. Take the time to understand what makes each person tick. Some might love public recognition, while others may appreciate a private thank-you or a meaningful note. Whether it’s celebrating a big win or a small achievement, inclusivity means recognizing both individual efforts and team contributions. When your team feels seen and valued, they invest more deeply in the collective mission. Celebrations, when done right, don’t just commemorate success—they fuel future growth. The stronger the bond within your team, the higher you can aim together. I couldn't agree more. #inclusive #inclusivecelebrations #buildingateam

With the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion now announced by the Australian Government, I’ve been reflecting on what I've learned through the work we’ve done at Ethnolink on past Royal Commissions. In particular, I’ve been thinking about what genuinely works when it comes to engaging multicultural communities. A few lessons continue to stand out for me. 1️⃣ First, accessibility is critical.  Public submissions need to be easy to access for people from a wide range of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. That means offering translated instructions in a wide range of languages, as well as a variety of formats. Written submissions alone often exclude people, whereas audio and video options create far more inclusive opportunities to participate. 2️⃣Second, awareness needs to be built through the channels communities already use and trust. Multicultural communities are far more likely to engage when information is shared through trusted ethnic media, community organisations, and established grassroots networks. Clear explanations of what the Royal Commission is about, why it exists, and how people can contribute make a real difference to participation. 3️⃣Third, engagement does not end when submissions close.  Communities want to understand what was heard and how their input influenced the outcomes. Communicating findings back in clear summary formats and translating them into multiple languages, helps close the feedback loop and strengthens trust in the process. What have I missed?  Any thoughts? Drop your ideas in the comments below. 👇 #RoyalCommission #multicultural #engagement #communications #translation

Engaging with community members that are facing change or difficult circumstances (which is not uncommon in community engagement & social impact measurement work, especially during community transition or major project scenarios) can also impact the health and wellbeing of the people doing the engaging. We often give thought to preventing harm and ensuring safety for participants in our work. Yet it's not uncommon for feelings to arise for the project team like sadness, helplessness, frustration, sense of guilt, and over-identification. One of thought-provoking takeaways for me from last week's IAP2 conference in Sydney was the incredibly high % of practitioners that shared challenges with their personal wellbeing, with many experiencing burn out or a critical mental health episode in the past 12-24 months. It led me to thinking about what improvements & supports might be needed as part of regular practice. Recognising the importance of engagement activities to be "trauma-informed" and leaning on what is known about effective trauma-informed practice could be one way for improving this situation. As emphasised in this practice guide on "How to do trauma-informed research and evaluation" from the Australian Institute of Family Studies, it’s a good idea to have a plan for how you and the team can be supported and what to do when potentially distressing events arise (noting too that "self-care is only part of the picture and cannot solve things like stressful work environments"). Some things suggested for "Project Team Self Care" include: * Know who in the project team and amongst the community partners will have contact with participants and/or data and develop a plan for their safety and wellbeing * Arrange formal and informal support and supervision for all team members. * Prepare to hear a wide variety of traumatic experiences * Consider the impact of studying traumatic stress or the experiences of historically marginalised populations on your own thoughts and emotions * Reflect on your own trauma experiences and how these may lead to unexpected reactions for you throughout the project * Develop a plan for a variety of your own self-care strategies that you can use to manage possible emotional reactions. * Take time to focus before you engage with participants * Schedule adequate breaks between data collection sessions I know for myself I often need to have some quiet time on my own to process what I've heard and how I'm feeling afterwards. I also find reassurance in debriefing with trusted colleagues - especially as I have a tendency to worry I've said the "wrong thing" to someone, and it can be helpful for me to go over a difficult stakeholder conversation and get a third-party perspective. What have you found useful in your own work? #wellbeing #evaluation #socialimpact #communityengagement (document release initially seen in an alert from the Analysis & Policy Observatory (APO))

The Victorian Parliament’s Inquiry into Community Consultation Practices provides a detailed look at how government agencies, local councils and essential service providers engage with communities across the state. Reading through it, one thing is obvious. We talk a lot about engagement in this state, but we still design processes that leave too many people out. For multicultural communities the gaps are even wider. Consultation is often late, rushed, unclear and inaccessible. It is no surprise that people feel unheard. The report confirms what many of us see every day: ❌ Language access is inconsistent. ❌ Information is not always provided in formats people can understand. ❌ Consultation methods rely heavily on digital platforms. ❌ Formal submissions only suit confident English speakers. ❌Communities aren't being told how their contribution will be used. This is not consultation. It is extraction. If we want genuine engagement, we need to treat it as real work. That means non negotiables that respect people’s time and expertise: 💚 Pay people for participating. 💚 Provide multilingual information. 💚 Engage interpreters and translators to facilitate communication. 💚 Partner with trusted organisations. 💚 Create safe spaces where people can speak openly. 💚 Start early, not after decisions are already made. 💚 Be transparent about what is possible and what is not. The report calls for stronger standards and more consistent practice across government. That is welcome, but standards alone will not shift culture. We need a mindset that sees community knowledge as essential, not optional. Multicultural communities carry deep insight into what works and what does not. When we ignore that knowledge, we make poorer decisions and widen inequality. Victoria’s diversity is one of our greatest strengths. Consultation should reflect that. It should be accessible, multilingual, respectful and properly resourced. Anything less is not engagement. It is a missed opportunity to build a fairer and more connected state.

The “Value-First” Framework for Community Engagement ↓ I think of community value in three layers: 1️⃣ Personal Value What does this person get out of showing up? - New knowledge - Access to mentors - Career opportunities A place to be seen and heard 2️⃣ Collective Value What does the group get from being together? - Shared identity - Belonging and trust - Collaboration on projects - Peer accountability 3️⃣ External Value What does the outside world see and respect about this community? - Industry recognition - Access to speaking opportunities - Partnerships with companies or institutions - Influence on broader culture When these layers are aligned, members move from consumers → contributors → advocates. A Checklist For Designing Engagement That Works ↓ When planning your next engagement activity, ask: ✅ Personal Value → What does an individual walk away with that they couldn’t get on their own? ✅ Collective Value → How does this interaction make the group feel more connected, aligned, or collaborative? ✅ External Value → How does this activity position the community as impactful in the broader ecosystem? If your engagement idea doesn’t touch at least two of these layers, pause and refine. 👥 I’m curious — when you think about your own community: - Where is the value clearest right now? - And which layer do you need to strengthen next? Drop your thoughts below - I’d love to see how you’re mapping this framework to your own work. #communitybuilding #engagement #developercommunity

How often do we design with people, instead of for them? It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that creativity is something only designers hold the key to. But when we pause and engage with communities, we realize something powerful: Creativity thrives within the community itself—it just needs the right conditions to flourish. Take, for example, the Collective Action Toolkit (CAT) by Frog. It’s not just a tool; it’s a framework that empowers communities to solve problems by tapping into their collective strength. Through a series of activities—like clarifying goals and imagining new ideas—small groups around the world have used this toolkit to not only share their thoughts but to take decisive action that addresses their concerns. The beauty of this approach is in its adaptability. It’s not a one-size-fits-all model. Each group can mould it to fit their unique needs, ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard and valued. But collaboration, as we know, isn’t always easy. There’s often discomfort, sometimes even conflict, when differing ideas meet. Yet, as designers, navigating these challenges is where true progress happens. As Otto Scharmer and Peter Senge, leaders in organizational development, have shown, it's in this space of tension that new solutions are born. A recent contribution from @Design Impact offers a set of guiding principles for designers to keep in mind when working with communities. One of these, “Value me for who I am, not who I’m told to be,” resonates deeply. It’s a reminder that behind every design is a real person, with history, emotions, and passions. When we acknowledge that, we move beyond simply gathering feedback—we tap into real leadership within the community. At the end of the day, Social innovation isn’t just about creating a product or service. It’s about co-creating, about building alongside communities rather than handing down solutions. It’s about fostering a space where everyone’s creativity can shine, and where long-term, sustainable change is possible. Have you been part of a design process that values community leadership? What challenges—and opportunities—did you encounter along the way?

Yesterday I released the 150th episode of the podcast, so I’ve decided that now is a good time to cover the power of recognising and celebrating milestones in business. 🎊 Below are a few basic but significant ways that commercial real estate agency leaders can do the same. 💼 Recognise Employees Acknowledge long-serving team members with personal notes, awards, and public plaudits. Be generous for important anniversaries; gifts, cash and/or plaques are recommended. You can create a pathway to celebrate the progress and success of your revenue-generating employees – such as noting when agents close their first deal (or close their first deal generating more than $10,000 in revenue, etc.). 🤝 Celebrate Clients Write cards, make calls or send gifts to commemorate anniversaries in new spaces or mark significant purchases. Explore unique traditions or create your own – for example, when I worked in Korea, I participated in a number of gosa ceremonies (these involve a severed pig’s head – find out more in the episode!). Keep a record of when clients first started doing business with you – or something else that is important to you and that they won’t be expecting you to acknowledge – to strengthen relationships. 🌟 Share Milestones Communicate personal and business growth milestones to the marketplace. You might decide to set revenue targets and promise donations to charities if they’re achieved; this is an opportunity to thank clients and employees for their contributions to an important cause. Recognition paves the way to more extraordinary achievements. When you celebrate them, you motivate people to create even more milestones together! For all of my ideas about recognition and milestones in commercial real estate, tune in to episode 150 of CRE Success: The Podcast ➡️ cresuccess.co/blog/150 #cre #cresuccess #commercialrealestate #commercialproperty