Effective engagement
Without effective engagement our ability to connect, learn, and influence is diminished. As change agents we engage with primary producers in a number of ways and settings to achieve different goals. Sometimes we are delivering a message, other times we are looking to gain information and a lot of the time we are doing both.
No matter what the situation, as a presenter educating primary producers on new farming techniques, running an on-site demonstration of new equipment or methods, one-on-one consultation at conferences or other networking events, or as workshop facilitator brainstorming research needs, one thing we should all aim for is connection before content. Connection builds trust which means our target group are more likely to share, reflect and be open to new ideas; all of which are key ingredients for successful participation, collaboration and learning.
Ultimately, if we are to be considered useful by the primary production sector we need to be trusted, reliable and authentic. Effective engagement through connection enables this.
This resource will help you to develop techniques that help facilitate connection and enhance relationships in a range of different scenarios.
