by Jessica Delaney, Principal, Engagement + Strategic Communications 2021 was a hard year. In many different ways, but a lack of certainty, stress and pandemic fatigue were all very much in the mix. As we approach 2022, there is on one hand a sense of hopefulness and on the other, a deep sense of uncertainty […]
by Jessica Delaney, Principal, Engagement + Strategic Communications Today is Giving Tuesday and if ever there was a day to donate to our neighbours it is today. At Delaney, we are safe and, though close to the devastation in the Interior and Lower Mainland, we have not been directly impacted. Entire communities, generations of farmers, […]
by Jessica Delaney, Principal, Engagement + Strategic Communications The language of a few years ago no longer feels appropriate. In fact, it can often feel that the language of a few months ago no longer reflects societal norms. As facilitators, we are often held to a higher standard to ensure we use and model safe […]
by Jessica Delaney, Principal, Engagement + Strategic Communications In March 2020, many of us moved fully into the virtual space. Microsoft Teams and Zoom became our new meeting space and with those came new opportunities and challenges to connect and meet. At Delaney we have been fortunate to be able to develop an entire course […]
by Jessica Delaney, Principal, Engagement + Strategic Communications Different regions are in different places with the pandemic and increasingly, many are seeking in-person opportunities to engage, particularly when seeking to engage seldom-heard voices. The challenge of course is balancing access and safety. At a recent conference someone said they ask their team: “is this meeting […]
by Jessica Delaney, Principal, Engagement + Strategic Communications I just finished my first-ever Mental Health First Aid course with the Mental Health Commission of Canada. You can learn more about their courses here: https://mhfa.ca/ As a facilitator, I wanted to build out my toolbox to better support participants, particularly as we engage on potentially difficult or […]
by Jessica Delaney, Principal, Engagement + Strategic Communications This is a bit of a thing for me. If you are at an engagement event, you have a role. You might be the facilitator, notetaker, a subject matter expert, or a participant. You have a role, a purpose, a function. Engagement is not research, and community […]
by Jessica Delaney, Principal, Engagement + Strategic Communications In much of our training, we focus on differentiating clearly between communications and engagement. The difference is that communications builds shared understanding of a problem, opportunity, or project, while engagement is sharing influence in decision making. For many of our participants, there are some aha moments when […]
by Jessica Delaney, Principal, Engagement + Strategic Communications A few weeks back, I was in a Zoom meeting with 15 other professionals the day after the long-weekend. The facilitator of the session opened by saying: “ Welcome back to work. I know you’ve all had a great summer, hiking, camping, and now it’s back to […]
