In my work, I see the same pattern over and over: community engagement is the backbone of effective public health, and small missteps can stall great work. Whether you're conducting a community needs assessment, implementing a strategic plan, or building ongoing relationships, a few avoidable mistakes can derail well‑intentioned efforts.

The good news: once you spot these patterns, you can turn stagnant outreach into steady, trusted participation that moves health outcomes.

Mistake #1: Waiting for Community Members to Initiate Engagement

The Problem: I often meet teams who adopt a "build it and they will come" mindset. It’s understandable—when you look at established coalitions, participation can seem effortless. But what works for mature initiatives with strong trust rarely translates to a new program or a new community.

Different strategies are needed as your engagement grows: from early outreach, to broader participation, to sustained, large‑scale involvement.

The Fix: Be proactive and predictable. Use engagement calendars to create regular touchpoints around clear themes—chronic disease prevention, mental health, health equity. Don’t just announce a forum; extend personal invitations, follow up by phone, offer transportation and childcare, and share a few preview questions so people feel ready. Proactive programs take time and energy, but they build habits and trust that communities can sustain.

Mistake #2: Keeping Your Personal Investment Hidden

The Problem: It’s easy to stay polished and institutional—talking about programs, resources, and outcomes—while keeping your “why” private. But engagement is personal. When people don’t know why this work matters to you, it’s harder for them to invest emotionally.

The Fix: Share your origin story in a grounded, professional way. I always encourage teams to name the moment this work became personal—seeing local disparities up close, losing someone to a preventable illness, or hitting system barriers that shouldn’t exist. For me, it’s the relief I’ve seen when one practical change—childcare, a ride, a stipend—opens a door that felt closed for years.

You don’t need to overshare. Offer a genuine, accessible “why” so anyone joining midstream can understand the heartbeat of the work. When your purpose is visible, community members are more likely to bring their own time, energy, and trust.

Mistake #3: Running Every Initiative Yourself

The Problem: When one person creates content, hosts meetings, and answers every question, it bottlenecks progress and limits ownership. Meanwhile, your most committed participants are often waiting to be invited into deeper roles.

The Fix: Proactively invite leadership. I scan for people who show up consistently and offer them meaningful ways to contribute, such as:

Co-facilitating focus groups for your needs assessment
Welcoming new participants to health coalitions
Sharing their expertise in community health forums
Mentoring newer community advocates
Helping shape future programming based on their lived experience

When you stop being the only voice, your initiative benefits from diverse perspectives and cultural insight. Look for respected community members and people with complementary skills—they expand reach and authenticity.

Mistake #4: Over-Controlling Communication and Activities

The Problem: Over‑moderating to keep everything “on message” can quietly shut people down. Redirecting every conversation, requiring approval for all ideas, or policing tone signals that input isn’t truly welcome.

The Fix: Set clear, thoughtful boundaries that protect your core values and safety—then step back. Let participants connect directly, even if the dialogue moves beyond your original agenda. I’ve seen some of the best ideas surface in organic peer‑to‑peer exchanges.

Create guidelines that emphasize respect and shared commitment to health, not rigid topic rules. Trust people to self‑regulate within fair guardrails.

Mistake #5: Being Inconsistent in Your Participation

The Problem: Engagement isn’t an occasional check‑in. Inconsistency—irregular updates, uneven follow‑through, or selective enforcement of agreements—erodes trust and participation.

The Fix: Build a sustainable rhythm. I encourage teams to align on:

Regular communication schedules people can rely on
Consistent response times to questions and concerns
Reliable follow-through on promised resources or actions
Fair application of community guidelines across all participants

You don’t need an hourly script. A dependable cadence helps people know when and how you’ll be present to support their involvement.

Mistake #6: Focusing Exclusively on New Participants

The Problem: When strategy centers only on onboarding, long‑time contributors feel overlooked. Many have shown up for multiple assessments, served on committees, or advocated for improvements—they deserve pathways that deepen their impact.

The Fix: Design for both newcomers and veterans. Offer options like:

Advanced training in health advocacy or community organizing
Mentorship roles supporting newer participants
Advisory positions on program development and evaluation
Recognition programs that celebrate sustained community involvement
Leadership development opportunities within health coalitions

Healthy initiatives create layers of belonging. People don’t “graduate” from connection—the relationship matures over time.

Mistake #7: Expecting Too Much Time from Community Members

The Problem: Long meetings and lengthy surveys exclude people with limited time—working parents, shift workers, caregivers, and those juggling multiple responsibilities.

The Fix: Keep it short and focused. In practice, I’ve found that about five minutes is often the sweet spot for gathering meaningful input from the most people.

Try time‑conscious approaches:

Brief pulse surveys rather than comprehensive questionnaires
Focused listening sessions with specific topics and clear time limits
Mobile-friendly participation options people can complete during breaks
Multiple small touchpoints instead of infrequent, lengthy meetings
Flexible scheduling including evening and weekend options

Asking for less time won’t always boost participation—but asking for more than five to ten minutes usually causes sharp drop‑off. In a busy world, even ten minutes can feel like a lot unless the topic is personally urgent.

Building Stronger Community Health Partnerships

Avoiding these mistakes isn’t just about higher numbers. It’s about building real partnership and shared ownership—so improvements last. When people feel heard, supported, and invited to shape the work, they become powerful advocates for change.

This takes time, intention, and a willingness to share power with the communities you serve. If you’d like a thought partner to strengthen your engagement strategy, contact our team. We’d be glad to support your next step toward more inclusive, effective community health partnerships.

7 Mistakes You're Making with Community Engagement (and How to Fix Them)