Tag: communication

Agent of change

FabrizioLeave a comment

It is not so difficult to agree that change needs to happen. It is much more complex to agree on what change adds up to and act on it.

So, if you are an agent of change, there are two things to keep in mind.

First, small wins are wins nonetheless. You do not have to achieve everything at once, and even small changes in the right direction are something to be proud of. Building blocks that can support larger wins in the future.

Second, not giving up is part of the package. You might be tempted – you WILL be tempted – to give up once things do not look exactly how you had planned. That is precisely when you have to take a deep breath, buckle down, and reinforce the message around the need for change.

Keep going.

A new tool

FabrizioLeave a comment

Things that might turn around a difficult situation in business.

Asking for help.

Sitting down with the people involved and listen.

Asking somebody who has been there before.

Interviewing your best customers.

Communicating.

Sharing your vision and make sure any decision made falls within its scope.

Allocating extra time for those who will be dissatisfied.

Learning to say no to every opportunities.

Communicating some more.

Offering concrete help to those who will be left behind.

Rather than just using “we” in presentations, live as “we”.

Overcommunicating.

Things that will NEVER turn around a difficult situation in business.

A new tool.

Elsewhere

FabrizioLeave a comment

Things that will make people stop listening and move their attention elsewhere.

Raising your voice.

Interrupting.

Antagonizing.

Being self-important.

Imposing your own topic.

Using more than three items in a list.

Not making pauses.

Technical jargon.

Not letting the other speak.

Getting distracted.

No form of personalization.

It does not matter if your idea is the best in the world, if you do any of the above you stand no chance to make an impact. Thinking about how many organisations out there have at least five of these dealbreakers in their communication on a regular basis.

Disservice

FabrizioLeave a comment

That idea you oppose, most likely it has some valid arguments backing it up.

By diminishing the idea, refusing to listen to it, sushing those supporting it you are doing everybody a disservice.

You are doing your counterpart a disservice, as you do not leave them the space to express their view and see if it resonates.

You are doing yourself a disservice, as you remain stuck, forgo a learning opportunity, fail to progress.

And equally importantly, you are doing your own idea a disservice, because even if it will eventually prevail, it will fail to represent a portion of the environment that might be sizable.

We are a culture in transition, and it may be that we are heading toward a more equal society — I don’t know — but what essential values will we forfeit in the process?

Nick Cave, the Red Hand Files, issue #109

Mess

FabrizioLeave a comment

What HBO is doing with their streaming offering is the perfect example of how bad marketing can ruin a great product.

Having three brands (HBO Max, HBO Go and HBO Now) to essentially serve the same audience has created a lot of distraction and confusion, and it has not helped one bit in delivering the image of quality HBO is recognized for worldwide.

They will fix it sooner or later, and they will most likely get past it, because they are HBO. Your organisation, though, is not. Take marketing seriously.