Five Powerful and Free Public Engagement Tactics

By Allison Bell

As federal COVID funding runs out, government agencies are tightening their budgets. Public employees are once again being asked to do more with less, including in their community engagement efforts.

In my book, Herocrats, I emphasize that a smaller budget doesn’t have to mean less impact. Courageous, community-minded public servants, or “herocrats,” don’t believe that a solution is only valuable if it costs a lot of money. Instead, they creatively use what they have, often finding that homegrown solutions can be more engaging and effective than expensive ones.

In that spirit, here are five powerful (and free) ways for government employees to better understand their communities and build stronger relationships with the people they serve.

1. Do Your Homework
Know your community inside and out. Create a basic community profile with the latest data and memorize key statistics like population, ethnic composition, median household income, and unemployment rates, including any disparities between groups. This knowledge will help you realign any outdated or inaccurate perceptions that come up in conversation. For example, if someone believes your community is predominantly one ethnicity, you can provide accurate, up-to-date demographics to paint a clearer picture.

2. Get Out!
Engage with the community you serve by experiencing government services and spaces firsthand. Ride public transportation, sit in waiting rooms, and observe. Challenge your assumptions by seeing what surprises you or confirms your beliefs. For instance, you might notice that certain services are underutilized or that there are common frustrations among community members that you hadn’t considered.

3. Don’t Just Bond, Also Bridge
Strengthen your relationships not just by bonding with people you consider peers, but also by bridging to those with different backgrounds and positions. Assess your social network and seek opportunities to connect with youth, immigrants, business leaders, or others outside your usual circles. Bridging relationships can bring richer understanding, better collaboration, and even new funding opportunities. For example, befriending a local business leader might lead to a partnership that benefits both the community and your agency.

4. Change Your Language
Words shape our reality. Ensure your language aligns with the inclusive world you aim to create. Avoid divisive terms and use the same language with all audiences to build commonalities and trust. For example, instead of referring to “internal” and “external” stakeholders, consider everyone as part of the community and use the same language with all audiences. This subtle shift can help break down barriers, build trust, and foster a sense of unity.

5. Repurpose Your Engagement Results
Instead of constantly seeking new data, revisit recent engagement results from other departments or initiatives. Share these insights within your agency to inform decisions, programs, and policies. For instance, if another department conducted a survey on community needs, use that data to guide your own projects. This approach maximizes the value of existing information and ensures that community voices are heard.

While we’d all prefer ample budgets for community engagement, many agencies must make do with less. Trying out these five tactics won’t cost you anything but time, and may even lead to unexpected benefits.

 Allison Bell is the CEO of Bellwether Consulting and the author of Herocrats: A Guide for Government Workers Leading Change. You can reach her at allison@bellwethermn.com and herocrats.com.