People should have a voice in the community they join

What we found in the news

On May 29, 2024, WHO reported a World Health Assembly resolution on social participation (opens in a new tab) in health decision-making. Its emphasis is on sustained opportunities for people and communities to influence decisions.

The announcement calls for:

“regular and meaningful social participation”

— World Health Organization, May 29, 2024

This is a policy commitment, not a study of activity planning. Applying the principle to a community programme is our interpretation: an invitation to give feedback should concern something people can genuinely help shape.

Why this matters to us

Imagine being asked which time you prefer for a group, only to discover that the timetable was already fixed. The question may have sounded welcoming, but it could not change the answer.

Our genus perspective is that listening starts with being clear about what is open. Participants can bring knowledge about their own time, interests and comfort that a planning meeting cannot supply on their behalf. People receiving support should be part of that conversation directly, with help communicating when they want it.

Being heard does not mean every preference can be adopted. It means the question was honest, the contribution was considered and the response explains the decision. A small decision handled that way can be a useful place to start.

Choose a decision before choosing a survey

Take one upcoming activity. Could participants influence its theme, the order of the session, the time or the way materials are used? Check the practical boundaries first. If staffing permits only one day, say so and invite ideas about the parts that remain flexible.

Frame the question so people understand the choice. Comparing two possible workshop formats may be easier than asking whether they want a more engaging programme. Leave room for an alternative you have not considered, while explaining what the host can realistically offer.

Provide more than one way to answer. A brief conversation, a written note or supported communication may reach different people. A confident speaker should not become the default voice of everyone in the room. Nor should a family member’s view automatically replace the person’s own preference.

Ask only for information needed for the decision. Someone can prefer a shorter session without explaining their health, finances or family responsibilities to the group.

Make the response part of the invitation

When you ask for input, tell people when and how the decision will be explained. Keep that promise small enough to deliver. A notice at the next session or a short update through the group’s usual contact route may be sufficient.

Describe what changed and what could not. For an illustrative example, a host might explain that the group will try a later start for two sessions, while the venue closing time stays fixed. If a suggestion cannot be used, give the relevant reason without identifying its author unnecessarily.

After trying the change, ask whether it helped. A preference expressed before an activity may turn out differently in practice. People need room to revise their view without feeling inconsistent or ungrateful.

Keep unanswered ideas somewhere the responsible team can review. A collection of suggestions is not evidence that a response happened. The useful record is the connection between a real question, a considered decision and what participants were told.

The genus connection

Today, the genusConnect Care App and wall (opens in a new tab) can share reviewed information and updates, with conversations available in configured communities.

That can support an organization’s existing feedback process: explain the choice, provide the actual contact route and share the decision. Staff still need to read contributions and act within their responsibilities. The platform should carry an honest invitation, rather than implying that every message will change a plan.

One question to take away

What is one decision participants could genuinely influence this month?

Name its boundaries, offer two usable ways to contribute and decide who will explain the outcome. That turns a general wish to listen into something people can recognize.