Four steps to improved engagement

Many discussions of improving engagement involve either complex philosophical/behavioral explanations or potentially disruptive (and therefore frightening and hard to do) widespread change. There is actually a pretty simple way to make significant change happen.

As soon as any project or issue is identified, and regularly thereafter, ask AND ANSWER the following four questions:

• Who are the direct and indirect stakeholders? (A stakeholder is anyone who is likely to be impacted by the issue or changes in the issue.)
• Who - beyond the direct and indirect stakeholders - might have expertise, interest, or alternative perspectives about this project or issue?
• What can we do to make sure the direct and indirect stakeholders and others with expertise, interest or alternative perspectives are aware of this initiative?
• What can we do to make sure the direct and indirect stakeholders and others with expertise, interest or alternative perspectives are easily able to track and contribute to this initiative?

If some form of this set of questions is a routine and obligatory part of both the initial launch and subsequent reporting of an organization’s initiatives, the culture will begin to assume that broadly based information sharing and communication is the standard, and failing to include important participants will become an exception rather than the default.