Preparing for your engagement is critical before you start your detailed planning and implement your activities. It ensures your messages are clear, consistent and in line with the organisation's objectives. It helps you build connections with other teams and departments to streamline resources and achieve more through internal collaboration.
The key steps in the preparation stage are:
- Know why you are engaging
- Understand the level of influence
- Know your purpose for engagement
- Identify your initial stakeholders
- Understand the past engagements and decisions that led to your engagement
To get you started, use our simple Preparation Checklist (PDF 40 KB).
Tools to help identify your engagement purpose
Engagement Level Selection Tool (PDF, 50 KB)
IAP2's Public Participation Spectrum (PDF. 54 KB)
Tools to help identify and analyse your stakeholders
Twyfords Appreciative Inquiry Stakeholder Analysis Tool (PDF, 320 KB)
Stakeholder Assessment Tool (DOC, 100 KB)
Best practice engagement process
In your planning process ensure your engagement is inclusive by considering how to reach hard to reach groups and individuals and develop a high quality communication strategy.