It is unrealistic to expect individuals or small groups suddenly to develop the capability to make complex decisions and become involved in major projects. They need training - or better still the opportunity to learn formally and informally, to develop confidence and trust in each other. The guide takes these key ideas and deals with the practical implications by challenging the following 'quick fixes' which may be proposed as ways to tackle participation problems. It also provides more detailed guidance on planning participation process and techniques to use. It is very difficult to keep to a fixed agenda - people may bring up any issue they chose and organisers look authoritarian if they try and shut people up.
Few people get a chance to have a say.
Run workshop sessions for different interest groups. Bring people together after the workshop sessions in a report-back seminar. If it is anything more than information-giving, then feedback and other people's ideas and commitment are being sought. High-cost presentations suggest minds are already made up. They are only as good as the brief provided.