Know what is going on in your community.

Understanding your community is one key to successful problem-solving and decision-making. The more you know your community, the more you’ll be able to support development initiatives.

The more you know about your community, the better you’ll be able to evaluate perceptions of local areas and government services. You will better gauge attitudes towards community members, businesses, non-profits and general community issues.

Your community should be a critical part of your family’s and organisation’s value chain, as it often provides many of the products and services you require. Community capacity building can do wonders for everyone, making it worth being involved.

Today, the rise of well-being and health care is a big issue that is often neglected. People are becoming more conscious of engaging in community activities and improving community services. Many are demanding a more flexible working environment that allows them to participate.

When businesses and non-profits cooperate, things happen. They start researching opportunities and exchanging ideas, which inspires innovative ways to improve themselves and the community. Keep your community well informed about what you are doing; they will provide valuable insights.

A starting point could be a Community Health Check.

Community Health Checks or assessments will determine the urgency of action. If there is time, a health check on the whole community should be carried out to see what else is broken. (Refer to the tools in the FAQ Knowledge Base to access this and other analysis tools). Advisors can help you become familiar with the tools, methods and processes used.

Action research is a reflective process of progressive problem-solving by individuals working with others in teams or as part of a “community of practice.” It is used to improve the way individuals address issues and solve problems. Action research can be carried out in the implementation process to improve the methods and approaches of those involved.

Quotable Quotes.

“Corporations, academics and governments tend to discuss how global forces shape the choices we must make about our businesses and communities, rather than the wants and needs of the people who live and work in them”.  Peter Sergeant

“Never forget you are an important investor in your town or village.  When many contribute a little, it significantly improves outcomes”. Peter Sergeant