All About Change

The Dialogue Partners manifesto for meaningful public engagement

In a world teeming with polarized perspectives, it’s not online forums or social media threads that will create lasting change; it’s meeting one another face-to-face to listen and share. As public participation professionals, it’s our job to design, host, and create the conversations that bring people together around issues that matter. It’s a messy business because it involves humans, and we’re a messy bunch.

We benefit from a curious and compassionate mindset when navigating change. It takes courage to embrace high emotions and lean into challenging conversations. It can be a difficult road with many potholes to maneuver before we step into a better future. Public engagement professionals help steer the way.

How we engage with participants is pivotal to success when it comes to facilitating change. We created the following manifesto to let others know how we approach public engagement and change-making. Along with IAP2’s seven core values, the following informs and guides our work:

1. Connect People to Each Other.
   We have a part to play in increasing social capital. Technology solves the easy problems; we can only grapple with the tough ones by bringing people together with diverse views and experiences. Seeking out diversity exposes many more unexplored possibilities and increases the richness of the conversation and outcomes.

2. Build Relationships.
   We believe in putting relationships first and outcomes second. We need to change the order of our work. Momentum for positive change originates because people feel something different, not because they know something different.

3. Ensure Equity Matters.
   For public engagement to work well, we need to change the playing field regarding who counts and who doesn't. Doing so means going beyond equal resources and opportunities. It means recognizing that some of us need additional or different resources to reach the same outcomes due to different circumstances. Equity involves more than words; it requires demonstrable action.

4. Welcome and Channel the Emotion People Bring.
   Just because people are loud, frustrated or emotional doesn’t mean they are difficult. Let’s reframe our thinking to recognize emotion as a gift of care, passion, and energy.

5. Advocate for Civil Discourse.
   All people have a right to a voice and a responsibility to use it constructively. Engagement processes can serve as a bridge in a time of polarity and divisiveness.

6. Put the Conversion in the Hands of People who Care.
   Go where the passion and energy are, and they will grow even more.

7. Build Community Strength.
   Build the capacity for conversation and connection. It’s about more than your project, program or policy.

8. Act with Integrity.
   Model the behaviour you want to see in others. Do what you say you're going to do.

Everyone needs a compass

It’s surprisingly easy to underestimate the challenges of embarking on decision-making that will lead to change. Understanding the dynamics involved helps us focus on the right strategy and tactics to engage stakeholders successfully.

At Dialogue Partners, we are committed to the core principles we’ve learned that are central to
effective public engagement. They help us and our clients navigate the path to change, even when things inevitably get messy along the way.