THE PORTER AUTHORITY
  • The Work
    • Overview
    • Change
    • Communications
    • Custom Workshops
    • Facilitation
    • Strategic Planning
  • Results
  • Clients
  • Blog
  • Contact
    • ABOUT Emily Porter

Stop. faking. engagement.

3/1/2018

 
Picture
Authentic engagement is a hot term right now, but too often our workplace interactions aren’t authentic or engaging. Real inclusive, participatory environments require more than conducting a survey and checking a box.

The art and science of engaging people is both deep and wide: social movements, human-centered design, complex systems, collective impact, organizational psychology, cognitive behavior, participatory methods, and the list goes on.

But you don’t have to be a scientist to start engaging. Here are five steps that you can start taking today to more truly engage, solve problems, innovate and change.
  1. Nurture a participatory environment, where everyone has an equal voice with time to share and be heard. A professional facilitator will ensure objectivity and fairness.
  2. Rally the group around a shared vision or common goal. This can be improving a process, creating a better environment or reaching a financial target.
  3. Support whole group ownership vs. a traditional hierarchical structure. Be clear about the parameters: What are the givens? Where can the group have an impact? The empowerment will spur energy, creativity and accountability.
  4. Ensure regular opportunities to openly discuss updates, issues and changes. When people disagree with each other, ask them to model the respectful curiosity they’d like to experience.
  5. Acknowledge progress and celebrate learning along the way. This is a crucial element of bonding!

Moving toward a more engaged, genuinely participatory environment can happen more quickly than you think. And the rewards are plentiful.


Comments are closed.

    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    PictureEmily Porter

    A well-traveled guide in a diverse array of organizational cultures, Emily Porter has a distinct POV marked by large doses of realism, empathy and outright humor. She has lived and worked in DC, NYC, Boston, Richmond, VA, Minneapolis and now Portland, OR.
    Emily's CV


    Archives

    September 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    July 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    September 2015
    August 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015


    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed


    Picture

Site Map

Home              
The Work 
​Case Studies  
The Results    
Clients
​
About
​
Blog
​
Contact

Get Our Blog!

We publish infrequently enough to avoid being annoying.
Subscribe
Picture
  • The Work
    • Overview
    • Change
    • Communications
    • Custom Workshops
    • Facilitation
    • Strategic Planning
  • Results
  • Clients
  • Blog
  • Contact
    • ABOUT Emily Porter