Levels of Awareness

Concept

You and every participant are at different levels of awareness as the process begins. Each participant will go through various stages of awareness throughout the process. This is a spiral --people may go through the same stage again but with a broader understanding.

To keep the process on track, be aware of where people are in this process and guide them to the next step through communication and participation. Use your knowledge of their perceptions and interest in the process through decision analysis to anticipate what is needed as you move through the steps in the decision process. Moving ahead before most participants are ready may cause conflict and delays by making it more difficult for people to reach the next stage.

Spiralling Attitudes

Levels

Dawning awareness.

Beginning to understand the problem and the situation

Sense of urgency.

Rushing to solve the problem right now!

Wishful thinking.

Thinking of all the options available

Discovery of choices.

Narrowing the options to what is possible

Weighing choices.

Finding the need to make tradeoffs and to balance interests

Practical resolve.

Evaluating and weighing the alternatives for the best workable solution

Responsible judgment.

Deciding on a solution

Implementing solutions.

Actually solving the problem

Go On

Helpful Hints Tour Facilitators <---> Levels of Participation