Skip to main content

User menu

  • Home
  • Post a Job
  • Register

Site Network

  • County News
  • School News
Home
  • News
    • Campaigns and Elections
    • Pension Reform
    • Comings and Goings
  • Local Policy Issues
    • Housing and Land Use
    • Infrastructure
    • Green
    • Health Care
    • Public Safety
    • Transportation
    • Transparency
    • Cybersecurity
    • admin
  • Jobs Board
  • Contact

Now Hiring?

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. How to Get Other People to do P2 With You

How to Get Other People to do P2 With You

By Brittany M. on
  • facebook-f
  • twitter
  • envelope
  • print
3936

By Kit Cole & Maureen Tobin

Whichever of its myriad names you use – community engagement, neighborhood-focused communications, public outreach, public participation – we see that certain folks consistently get “stuck” with the added responsibility of P2. If you’re already a PIO (public information officer) or a City Clerk, you may very well get asked to take on P2. And if you’re already out in the community, engaging with folks around public safety issues, you might also get asked to take on P2.

The critical thing to know is that P2 is better when people across your organization are working on it with you. Here are the Top 3 Ways to get others on board:

1. Ask for help

It seems like a no-brainer, but this is actually the most overlooked approach we’ve seen. Asking for help requires us to be a little vulnerable, so many of us avoid it. Yes, your shoulders are broad and you can handle the responsibility, but think how much more effective you’ll be when a variety of folks in your organization are working in tandem.

P2 is most effective when it's done by people local to your particular neighborhood, community or organization. You have local government employees that are members of the churches, basketball leagues, and Rotary Clubs that you need to engage. Ask your fellow employees what they’re up to in the community and make them ambassadors to those groups – they’re already known and have credibility!

2. Get some training

It's tough to do P2 when you feel like you don’t know what you’re doing. Heck, it's hard to do most anything when you haven’t been given any training. Consider attending P2 training together, as a growth and development opportunity, with your colleagues and co-workers. Our favorite trainings are focused, group-based (because best practices come from other people!) and virtual. Training should be relatively painless, done on a week day and provide information in a variety of ways – in a virtual community, on Zoom and with written materials. Our favorites? We’re biased, but we love the Davenport Institute and The P2Club for both foundational P2 work and ongoing training and support.

3. Slow and go

Ask a coworker to help you provide the snacks at the next community open house. Ask someone to staff the sign-in table and someone else to hand out flyers with info for that evening’s discussion. Once they’re familiar with the process, it becomes less scary for your colleagues to consider doing P2. It’s possible that someday in the not-so-distant future you may even have to limit your volunteers for community engagement events! Introducing people to P2 slowly increases the chances they’ll experience a small “win” or two, even if there is some conflict or high emotions at the meeting.

That’s all folks! Please stay tuned for our next weekly installment on the “finer points” of P2.

See also: Top 5 Mistakes You’re Making With Public Participation

Tags
Featured
news
public participation
civic engagement
Section
Special Reports
Brittany M.
Published 1 year ago
Last updated 1 year ago
3936
  • facebook-f
  • twitter
  • envelope
  • print
Sign Up for Our Awesome Newsletter

 

City Jobs

  • Deputy Clerk to the Board I/II or III
    County of Marin
  • Water Resources Manager
    San Joaquin County
  • Chief Animal Control Officer
    City of Sacramento
  • General Manager
    Incline Village General Improvement District
  • County Clerk and Recorder Legal Compliance Officer
    County of Ventura
  • Assistant General Manager – Finance & Risk Management
    City of Glendale
  • Development Services Director
    City of Colton
  • City Attorney
    City of Brentwood, CA
  • Deputy Director - SJGH Nursing Maternal/Child Services
    San Joaquin County - San Joaquin General Hospital
  • City Clerk
    City of Palo Alto, CA

Campaigns & Elections

Santa Ana Considers Allowing Noncitizens to Vote
Wednesday, September 20, 2023
Undocumented immigrants could be able to vote in Santa Ana municipal elections under a policy being…
Rancho Cordova to Adopt New Map for District Elections
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
The Rancho Cordova City Council will take a major step next week toward finalizing a district-based…
Oakland Sees Another Election Mix-Up Involving Candidates for School Board
Thursday, August 24, 2023
A city error that almost disqualified the only two candidates from Oakland Unified’s District 5…
Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln Running for Congress
Thursday, July 20, 2023
In 2020, Stockton experienced a huge political upset when the Republican pastor of a local church,…
Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer Launches Bid to Unseat Terra Lawson-Remer
Tuesday, July 18, 2023
Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer has announced his candidacy for the county’s Third District…

Comings & Goings

Santa Barbara County Sees More City Manager Retirements
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
At least two administrators from the Santa Barbara County area will vacate their positions this…
Laguna Beach Hires Interim City Manager
Thursday, September 7, 2023
Retired Irvine city manager Sean Joyce will take over as the interim city manager of Laguna Beach…
Manteca Hires New Director of Finance
Tuesday, September 5, 2023
The City of Manteca has hired a new finance director. Shay Narayan, who currently serves as budget…
City Manager Shohreh Dupuis Parts Ways With Laguna Beach
Monday, August 28, 2023
The City of Laguna Beach has announced a “mutually-agreed upon” separation with Shohreh Dupuis, who…
Benicia Taps Next City Manager
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
Benicia’s city council has promoted its interim city manager to the permanent role.  Mario…
Clear keys input element