The Participation Blog

FaceTime Still Rules, Kids

As people rely more and more on email, text, social and all other impersonal ways to connect to others, we know we’re losing something in translation. If you’re wondering what this means to you, consider the research from Western University that says face to face requests are 34 times more ...
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Conflict and Personality

A lot of people hate conflict; they avoid it, ignore it, pretend it doesn’t exist and kick the can down the street hoping somebody else will deal with it some other time. Other people attack and bulldoze forward and still some others just roll over to it. None ...
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I’m Sorry

A sincere, well stated apology is the most important thing to deliver when you’re dealing with someone who has, or feels like they have been wronged or mistreated. If you’re dealing with someone or some group that has a real grievance, it’s the only way that you’re going ...
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Sanctimonious Gasbags

I’m sure that my first grade teacher, Sister Mary Mercy, wouldn’t happy if she caught me saying this but let’s face it, some people are just jerksLook, I’m a committed believer and practitioner of respecting people’s opinions and treating others with civility, regardless ...
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It’s Just Not Fair!

As I’m writing this, I’m on hold again with the customer service department of my cable company that delivers my TV service, internet and telephone landlines. My phones were abruptly disconnected due to a technical change on their end after I’d been promised by two previous customer service reps that ...
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The Consequence of Fake News

Propaganda, obfuscation, spin and bull$%#t are now facts of public life to a degree that we haven’t seen before in the U.S. and helping people recognize and consider truth vs. lies will now be part of the job description for those of us engaged in the work that we do. ...
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Great Questions Engage People

Public participation, when done effectively and authentically, actively engages people in the conversation or issue that you’re trying to resolve. The Core Values established by the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) does a good job of defining what that really means and differentiates public involvement from traditional public relations. ...
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