The paper presents an alternative conceptualization of participation in order to offer legitimation and guidance for (new) scholars, policymakers and citizens, and to prepare them for the "work" that needs to be done to develop genuine participation practices that bring about positive change. Metaphors like the participation ladder not only explain and shape our communication but also shape the way we think and act. Metaphors can shape our perceptions and actions in ways we do not notice. So if we believe the critiques are correct and that participation encompasses much more than a hierarchical set of social relations that are devoid of context, we need an alternative lens that prepares us for the right expectations and unanticipated actions. Inspired by the work of the German philosopher Hannah Arendt, we shift away from a focus of participation ladders in decision-making to foreground "acting" and "work" instead, as this might help to overcome some of the current obstacles to designing genuine collaborative processes.