Originally published 20 December 2004. This article is retained from the tCI archive. Law, policy or practice may have changed since publication.
If spring is a time of re-awakening, it’s also time to get real and shed the cosy myths with which we surround ourselves in the dark days of winter. Indeed the Easter Bunny may be winter’s last fling before we knuckle down to the realities of the rest of the year. So here, by analogy are three myths we should immediately demolish.
Myth One: - Consultation is a waste of time
Okay, so there may bit a lot of cynicism out there, on both sides of the fence. We know that some organisations pay lip service to the need to involve people; we also see many consultees who fear that whatever they say, it won’t be taken seriously. But as consultation methods improve, and those who manage consultation exercises become more experienced, there is every chance that attitudes can change. There is no alternative to finding and publicising examples of occasions where the process of talking to stakeholders has changed decisions. The onus is firmly on consultors to make the case for the public and their representative bodies to take the time to participate. If we want their time, we have to demonstrate that we deserve it.
Myth Two: - Consultation gives everyone an equal chance to influence the decision
In theory, this is of course true. But in practice, we have to recognise that many of the most popular consultation methods have an in-built bias towards those people and organisations that are most familiar with traditional ways of influencing public policy decisions. Indeed the more widespread use of consultation gives such establishment organisations even more opportunities to express their views. None of this is wrong, but consultors must become increasingly conscious of the need to be more inclusive. Many parts of the community - not just those often (misleadingly) called the hard-to-reach, are hesitant about taking part in the more formal consultation processes; they need help. Capacity-building initiatives are urgently needed to restore balance in consultation processes, and public bodies have a responsibility to help in this task. Developing courses for consultees is a priority for the Institute right now.
Myth Three: - Consultation ……..Anyone can do it !
Well, many of us are trying hard. But all the toolkits in the world cannot substitute for the comprehensive training and guided experience that is needed. For consultation to be successful, it is vital to employ robust procedures at every stage, and to be able to follow through to the very end-game by ensuring that the decisions which are meant to be influenced are properly advised on the outcome of the relevant consultations. Too many of us have limited exposure to the entire end-to-end process. It’s time to broaden the skill-set.
Trigger points
- Is everyone in your organisation that is involved with consultation properly trained?
- Are you doing enough to persuade consultees that it is worth their time to participate?
- What steps are you taking to adjust the balance of participation between traditional establishment voices, and other groups we find harder to hear?
This is the 10th Tuesday Topic; a full list of subjects covered is available for Institute members and is a valuable resource covering so many aspects of consultation and engagement