Speech Feedback Circles

What could this idea change?

It gives the club a clearer view of people's experiences before decisions are made, including feedback that informal conversations can miss.

It may suit: The people whose experience the club needs to understand, especially voices that are not often heard.

A simple way to start

1. Write the decision brief for Speech Feedback Circles: define which audience, purpose and evidence will shape a speaking or facilitation practice activity, the starting evidence, people affected, local authority, resource limit, success signals and stop conditions. Who could lead it: Board sponsor and leadership-development lead
2. Publish the capability and decision need, invite interest fairly, ask about access and workload, declare conflicts and separate development from any formal appointment. Apply this specifically to Speech Feedback Circles and record which relevant experiences or users are still missing. Who could lead it: Board sponsor and leadership-development lead with the access and privacy contacts
3. Build and test a facilitated conversation with a published influence boundary and balanced participation for Speech Feedback Circles; complete the Speech Feedback Circles Facilitation and Influence Run Sheet, rehearse the boundary wording and confirm who may decide, refer, pause, recover or close the work. Who could lead it: Facilitator, mentor or role supervisor
4. Use real but bounded practice, observation, reflection and specific feedback; protect confidential information and keep every reserved decision with the authorised office-holder. Capture only the evidence needed to judge whether Speech Feedback Circles advances clear and responsible public influence. Who could lead it: Facilitator, mentor or role supervisor
5. Compare the evidence with the starting point, validate meaning with affected participants or users, record gaps and unintended effects and prepare a de-identified themes record and response register showing how participant input affected the decision without overstating what the trial proves. Who could lead it: Facilitator, mentor or role supervisor with an independent reviewer

What should we look for?

• After 90 days, review Speech Feedback Circles. Look for messages being understood by the intended audience, questions being handled within authority and promised follow-up being completed.
• Speech Feedback Circles produces a de-identified themes record and response register showing how participant input affected the decision by the promised decision date, with evidence limitations, participation gaps and unintended effects stated.
• People affected can explain the purpose, their choices, the boundary and how to raise an access, privacy, safety or governance concern.
• The trial shows whether clear and responsible public influence improved from the recorded starting point without shifting hidden workload, risk or exclusion elsewhere.
• Every accepted action has an owner, due date and completion evidence, and the club records a reasoned continue, adapt, refer, scale or stop decision.

Before we say yes

• Does it fit a real local need?
• Can people take part safely and fairly?
• Are the facts, permissions and Rotary branding right?
• Who will lead it, and when will we review it?