People who do a task can explain details that a procedure omits: the awkward hand-off, the recurring interruption, the step that only works when production is quiet. Treat that knowledge as part of the assessment, not merely feedback on a finished proposal.
Ask before selecting the answer
Begin with the difficulty people are trying to manage. Ask for a specific example rather than inviting only a rating. A worker may describe a conflict between two sensible requirements that a checklist would not reveal.
Do not expect a single representative to describe every shift, language group or type of employment. Consider whose experience is missing from the conversation.
Make participation safe and purposeful
Explain what information will be used, how confidentiality will be handled and who will make the decision. Do not invite disclosure of private medical information in an open meeting or public forum.
WHO emphasises meaningful involvement of workers and their representatives in action on mental health at work. [1] The practical lesson for a design exercise is to make participation consequential rather than ceremonial.
Test a change with the people affected
Agree what improvement would look like and watch the task again after the change. Ask what became easier, what became harder and whether the difficulty moved to another person.
Use the job, person and organisation as complementary lenses, drawing on HSE's human factors approach. [2] Avoid assuming that one positive response establishes success across the workforce.
Show what happened to the contribution
Report back even when the proposed solution cannot be adopted. Explain the constraint and the next action. Keep a record of unresolved questions and who will follow them up.
The same principle applies to a professional community. A useful reply explains its basis, acknowledges context and leaves room for the original questioner to clarify the problem.
Sources & context
- WHO: Mental health at work World Health Organization · Global
- HSE: Human factors and ergonomics Health and Safety Executive · Great Britain
Source-linked editorial material, prepared 2026-09-05; updated 2026-09-05. Prepared with AI assistance. Not independently peer-reviewed. Sources and legal requirements can change. The linked organisations do not endorse this publication. Our editorial approach.
What would you add?
What has made participation genuinely useful rather than a formal exercise?
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