What are some of the skills and qualities of a successful community engagement leader?

I would add listening skill - we need to converse with not talk at people and make sure their views are heard It's especially important when facilitating collaborative groups that everyone gets the opportunity to participate

A critical skill for a community engagement leader is to be able to see the members as a human being beyond the handles & usernames. While domain knowledge & strong articulation skills are non-negotiable, the genuinely engaged communities know each other at a deeper level. They share their joys, troubles & days together & engage in a banter that extends to a 1-on-1 connect. A community engagement leader plays a pivotal role in driving that by being an efficient moderator who facilitates collaboration & encourages dialog. They need to be GENUINELY interested in their community.

A successful community leader has a servant mentality. They are truly creating a community WITH the community, with their needs in mind. Creating a community takes great communication skills, a warm and inviting presence, and the ability to accept all people without judgement, so all feel included and celebrated. Being a community leader is an honor, that does not come without hard work and dedication. Your heart needs to be in the right place, in order to provide the best experience.

Remember, especially for those working in a hybrid world, that this community is made of individuals, with unique voices and perspectives. These are not merely numbers. - Listen: listen at all levels of your company and provide a variety of channels so that the less forthright or confident, feel comfortable to let their opinions be known. - Walk the talk: Be ready to put this plan into action and follow up on the thoughts and opinions that you've heard. It can be highly demotivating to express yourself, be vulnerable, and see that nothing was done about it. Communicate: close the feedback loop. Tell folks what you've done about a certain topic, update them on them on progress, challenges and successes. However big or small these wins are!

While having adaptive and effective communication skills is essential, community engagement leaders need to have listening skills that demonstrate genuine interest and curiosity in the views of others, and the ability to create and present an attitude of positive reflection, humility and acceptance of the personalities of others. Another important skill is the ability to generate a vision that incorporates the input of others, provides an underlining rationale, and compels others to engage with it, and become collectively activated. Such a vision must support dialogue, build trust and motivate others to make it happen.

It is important to be mindful of how you enter into a “community” whether it’s geographical or non-geographical. Be willing to listen and put all preconceived notions aside and be open to learn. Allow the opportunity to facilitate the creation of new relationships with trust and respect, because it goes a long way. People want to be treated with dignity and respect no matter the culture.

Curiosity & a willingness to explore, embrace & celebrate other cultures are hallmarks of great community leaders. They celebrate the differences & look forward to learning. They wish for festivals & share season's greetings. But will also call out biases or competitive behavior in the same strong voice, making it a safe space for all members to thrive.

Possessing cultural competence skills is an essential requirement for all community engagement leaders. As a beneficiary of the University for Development Studies ( Wa, Ghana) Third Trimester Field Practical Program, I was able to gain a deeper appreciation for the benefits of understanding and respecting diverse cultural beliefs, values, and practices. This competency has been instrumental in my professional development, particularly when I commenced my employment a decade ago in an entirely new region. It enabled me to establish and foster meaningful relationships with community members and project beneficiaries across various communities and districts, consequently ensuring the successful implementation of our project.

Culture is an ever-evolving and organic concept that is expressed by lived-experience as those who are the experts of their community. Being competent also means being aware of how we as community engagement officers engage our role as potential "outsiders" from a place of respect, compassion, and curiosity. We can recognize our own limitations by being continuous learners who center marginalized voices and engage the power of institutions for good.

Cultural competence should be based on experience, sensitivity and empathy and self-awareness of one's own cultural beliefs, values and practices. As cultures vary, a community engagement leader must become aware of how other cultures understand the world, perceive order and authority, communication practices in different settings (work, home, etc.) and what the "tipping points" of members may be on different issues. Listening and observing, asking open ended questions, checking back to confirm meaning, and calm neutrality are important.

Relationship building is about honesty and consistency. Community partners have to know that you will tell them the truth, even when it is not the answer that they want. Partners also need to know you will show up for them. From the small things to big ones, showing up time and again is important. Extending the same courtesies to customers helps to create a strong network and narrow gaps for those the community is looking to serve.

One thing I've found helpful for all Community engagement managers and taking a community forward is that a community engagement leader most have relationship building skills and be emphatic towards the members he leads. Relationship building skills helps leaders fulfil it's primary goal of fostering inclusion and healty collaborations. A leader who cares about the needs and social welfare of it's members; putting into cognisance their cultural values, religious beliefs and governmental policies will effectively foster inclusion, healthy collaboration and safe environment for it's members to co- existence.

Content is not king. Relationships are. And social media, used wisely, is a place to use content to foster relationships! What an opportunity! Don’t just develop content FOR your community. Develop content WITH your community! Consider also developing content collaboratively with your ideal clients or partners: "content-based networking." Look past the "vanity metrics" associated with traditional social media KPIs (followers, likes, comments, etc) and even past the traditional marketing metrics (click-through rate, conversions, cost per lead, etc). Those metrics focus on the "media" and advertising elements of social media instead of the lesser-emphasized "social" elements of social media.

Building good relationships is about being open and honest, having a good sense of humour and understanding that people may have a different opinion to you, and that's ok. Strong relationships are built on working towards a common goal

Network. Network. Network. It is everything when it comes to community. Being able to build strong relationships with each of your members is crucial to member retention and the strength of the community. Having personal conversations outside the boundaries of business/work helps establish this connection. It is also important to build relationships outside of the community. LinkedIn has been a huge contributor to the building of our community brand and attracting the eyes of some big players in the space. LinkedIn has quickly become our top source of new members.

Facilitation Skills are important & critical to engage with the community. Since the community is an inclusive space for everyone to share their opinions, thoughts, & understanding to contributions & discussions. Enabling these conversations becomes much more critical. Intutitiely asking questions & enabling others to ask, share, and comment in the group.

If you don't have this, you don't have a community. You need to be able to engage your members. For me, this is a mix of engaging conversations/discussions, collaborative virtual events, in-person events to connect on a personal level, and just always ensuring that members feel supported and that we are listening!

Facilitation is an art and skill that takes practice and patience. To be successful, I have found that setting share goals from the start, pressure testing those goals and engaging people where they are at are a game changer. If you are in space that requires a deep level of cultural competency, make a commitment e.g. co-facilitator with shared lived experiences or more inclusive settings. Meet people where they are at. Make engagement easy.

In my experience, being a powerful and impactful facilitator means having the confidence to contain a groups intentions without forcing an outcome. Emergent design, responsiveness, and creativity are some of the most powerful skills that a facilitator can have. Most groups respond to facilitation skills that can both meet them where they are at, and recognize how to move towards tangible outcomes. A facilitator is less of a consultant and educator and more of a conduit, steward, and container for the possibility and wisdom that is already in the room

In my experience, facilitation skills are vital for encouraging others to engage, eliciting input, supporting reflection and discussion, and moving conversations toward agreement or consensus. Having group dynamic skills enables facilitators to function at a much higher level in a group. Good facilitators are positive, constructive and read between the lines as well as capturing the specific opinions or points expressed by other people.

Empower the most active community members with leadership roles that highlight their unique skills in ways that give them stewardship roles. Consider an ambassador program.

In my experience as a community engagement leader, I've realized the significance of strong leadership skills. Inspiring and motivating others, setting a clear vision, and guiding them towards their goals are crucial aspects. Mobilizing and empowering individuals to take action on important issues requires effective leadership. I've learned the importance of modeling and promoting community engagement values like collaboration, inclusion, equity, and accountability. These skills not only drive meaningful change but also foster a sense of ownership and empowerment within the community. Let's continue to lead with purpose and make a positive impact together!

In my experience, it’s all about how you show up daily. Servant leaders don’t have to announce “ I’m a servant leader” … it shows in all your actions, as you are interacting with your community. A community leader’s authenticity is easy to see. Not everyone is cut out for this role. It truly takes a love for people, empathy, non-judgmental views, and someone who believes in elevating others.

Community engagement leaders inspire and motivate their communities to participate actively and contribute to the collective goals. They should be able to set clear expectations, delegate tasks effectively, and recognize and celebrate the achievements of community members.

As someone passionate about community empowerment, I believe successful community engagement leaders are able to blend interpersonal finesse, strategic thinking, and unwavering dedication. They need to be able to connect deeply with individuals, listening to understand needs. Their communication inspires collective action. They navigate challenges with resilience, seeking innovative solutions. Above all, they foster inclusive spaces where every voice is valued, driving positive change for the community.

Keeping track of workstreams from start to finish will help with data collection and auditing of impact. Updating a spreadsheet weekly is much easier than attempting to collect data for an entire month in one go. Use pivot tables and charts to assist with data presentation

Without analyzing feedback, we risk missing the mark on our potential success - community engagement is not just about actions; it's about impact and learning. Collecting and analyzing data isn't a mere formality; it's a responsibility to the community and its goals. It's how we gauge success and understand the community's pulse. Failing to act on evaluation insights not only hinders improvement but erodes trust within the community. A commitment to continuous improvement, rooted in evaluation, transforms engagement into a dynamic, responsive dialogue. It reassures the community that their voices matter, fortifying trust and ensuring that shared goals remain at the heart of our journey.

Evaluation skills enable a leader to assess the impact and effectiveness of community engagement efforts. Through data analysis and feedback, they can measure progress, identify areas for improvement, and make informed decisions to enhance future initiatives, ensuring that efforts align with community needs and goals.

Community engagement isn't just about going through the motions. A good leader uses evaluation to assess the effectiveness of their efforts. This helps them understand if the engagement is leading to positive change and meeting the community's needs. Through evaluation, leaders can identify areas for improvement. Did a certain outreach method not resonate? Evaluation helps pinpoint weaknesses so they can be addressed in future initiatives. Evaluation provides data to support decision-making. Leaders can use this data to justify future projects, secure funding, and demonstrate the value of community engagement to stakeholders.