Top Questions to Ask Your Public Engagement Team
Whether you're working with internal staff or a consultant, asking the right questions helps set the tone and avoid problems later. Here are the top questions to ask your public engagement team before you begin.
1. What Are the Objectives of This Engagement?
Start with purpose. What are you trying to achieve?
Are you informing the public, collecting feedback, or building consensus? Clarity on goals helps shape your strategy and tactics.
2. Who Are the Stakeholders?
Ask for a stakeholder map or list. This should include:
Internal teams
Local residents
Elected officials
Businesses
Indigenous communities
Community groups
You can't engage effectively if you don’t know who is affected.
3. What Level of Engagement Is Required?
Use the IAP2 spectrum or your municipal policy to define expectations.
Is this inform, consult, involve, collaborate, or empower? The answer will guide the tools and approach used.
4. What Are the Key Messages?
Public engagement teams should prepare a messaging framework. This includes:
What the public needs to know
What decisions have already been made
What input is being requested
How feedback will be used
Clear messaging prevents confusion or mistrust.
5. What Tools Will Be Used?
Find out which tools or platforms will be used for outreach.
This may include:
Online surveys
One-on-one meetings
Mailouts or signage
The right mix depends on your audience, budget, and timeline.
6. How Will We Reach Underserved or Hard-to-Reach Groups?
Not all voices are equally represented. Ask how the team plans to:
Reach people without internet access
Include newcomers and non-English speakers
Involve youth, seniors, or Indigenous residents
Remove barriers to participation
Engagement should be inclusive and accessible.
7. How Will Feedback Be Collected and Reported?
Ask for a plan that shows how feedback will be:
Collected
Organized
Analyzed
Shared
You’ll need this for transparency, reporting, and future decision-making.
8. What Are the Risks?
Good engagement teams think ahead. Ask about:
Potential controversy or opposition
Public misconceptions
Scheduling conflicts with other projects
External influences like elections or policy changes
Your team should have mitigation plans in place.
9. How Will We Measure Success?
Decide in advance what success looks like. Metrics might include:
Number of participants
Feedback quality
Stakeholder satisfaction
Media coverage
Internal approval of the final report
Without measurement, it’s hard to evaluate or improve.
10. What Are the Timelines and Milestones?
Get a clear timeline of key dates and deliverables. This includes:
Launch date
Event dates
Survey deadlines
Reporting timeline
Council presentation (if applicable)
This keeps everyone accountable and avoids delays.
Working With reVerb
At reVerb Communications, we welcome these questions. We believe the best public engagement is planned carefully, delivered clearly, and measured honestly.
If you're starting a new engagement process and need external support or advice, we’re here to help.
Contact us to learn more.
