The Neighborhood Design Center has a series of Best Practices to follow as you’re facilitating engagement. These practices were written for The Blueprint, a roadmap for our engagement process. The best practices are also described below.
Be the first to put on a name tag.
Offer one to everyone, but expect it of no one. To let someone know your name is to give them power.
Identify special guests.
If special invitees, officials or experts are invited, make this clear up front. Offer context for their involvement.
Make eye contact.
When possible, provide food.
Taking a minute to pause and be social helps build warmth and trust. Research says that if everyone shares the same meal, you’re more likely to reach consensus.
Make it reciprocal.
Plan for a workshop that participants get more out of than they are asked to put it (i.e. it’s fun, there’s social time built in, people get to make connections, great snacks, etc.)
Use icebreakers.
They help participants make interpersonal connections and loosen up the group. The following Airtable has a list of icebreakers you can use as inspiration
Respect everyone’s time.
Use a timer for activities and/or dedicate a timekeeper.
Be prepared.
Always have post its, sharpies, name tags, and extra paper. And pens, always pens.
Dedicate a note taker.
This person shouldn’t have other responsibilities, but instead be focused on documentation.
Establish shared values at the beginning.
Explain what data you’re gathering and what you will do with it.
Be transparent about information gathering.
Explain what data you’re gathering and what you will do with it.
Be clear about next steps.
What will you do with the information you collect? How will you follow up with participants?
Invite everyone to sign in.
Housekeeping Items
Locate bathrooms and water fountains.
Honor time limits.
Ask participants to please use phones only at breaks.