Topic 3. Communicating Competences and Initiatives
Section Outline
Estimated study time: 40 minutes
This section focuses on communicating competences, motivations, and ideas clearly and effectively in community engagement contexts.
Participants learn how to present their own contribution, explain the value of an initiative, and adapt communication to different stakeholders. Particular attention is given to empathetic, respectful, and welcoming communication, especially in situations where stakeholders may have different needs, expectations, or perspectives.
By the end of this section, participants will be able to:
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communicate their competences and motivations clearly;
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present a short and structured community engagement proposal;
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adapt communication to different stakeholders and contexts;
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recognise communication that supports empathy, inclusion, and constructive collaboration.
This section includes a short learning input, an infographic, a stakeholder communication activity, and an interactive knowledge check with immediate feedback.
Learning Materials
Communicating Competences and Initiatives
Effective community engagement depends not only on having useful ideas, but also on being able to communicate them clearly and respectfully.
When working with community stakeholders, participants may need to explain:
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what they can contribute,
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why they are interested in the initiative,
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what problem or need they would like to address,
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how their proposal could benefit the community,
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what kind of collaboration or support they are seeking.
Clear self-presentation does not mean promoting oneself aggressively. It means communicating relevant competences, experiences, and motivations in a way that helps others understand how you can contribute to a shared goal.
A useful structure for presenting your contribution is:
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Who am I?
Briefly describe your role, background, or relevant experience. -
What can I contribute?
Identify one or two competences that are relevant to the situation. -
Why does this matter to me?
Explain your motivation or connection to the issue. -
What is the need or challenge?
Describe the issue clearly and from the perspective of the community or stakeholders involved. -
What do I propose?
Present a realistic idea, action, or contribution. -
How can we work together?
Invite dialogue, feedback, and collaboration.
Communication should also be adapted to the audience. A message to a student group may differ from a conversation with a local organisation, municipality, school, or professional partner. Effective communication involves listening as well as speaking.
Empathetic and welcoming communication includes:
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showing interest in other perspectives,
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asking open questions,
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listening without interrupting,
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acknowledging concerns,
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avoiding assumptions,
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using clear and respectful language,
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inviting others to contribute to the discussion.
For example, instead of saying: “This is the best solution and we should use it.”
a more collaborative response would be: “This is one possible approach. I would be interested to hear how it fits with your priorities and whether we should adapt it together.”
The second response supports dialogue and shared decision-making, which are important principles of effective community engagement.