“People don't ‘get’ the important messages leaders try to send the
first time around”, believes The Change Master Rosabeth Moss Kanter. “This
isn't intentional, but there's too much noise and too many distractions... so use the principle of redundancy.”
Yet you don’t have to be a “leader” to be heard, nor rely on repetition. Just be relevant. It’s more likely that we don’t remember a message because it didn’t matter to us.
To say it so it’s meaningful to others – enough that they’ll remember and act, here’s some simple steps:
1. Determine the single, specific behavioral change you seek.
2.
Step into their shoes. See the
situation their way.
3.
Find the emotional trigger within that situation or their lives (fear or
desire).
4. Among the many details in your head,
find the key comparison between “what is” and “what could be” that would matter
to them if they did #1.
5.
Craft your three-part messsage:
a. What "is" (the bad situation)
b.
What could be – when (not if) “we” act to change it.
c.
Why act now.
6.
Ask them to signify that they will join you in this act by doing something now.
(raise right hand, stand….)
6.
Hone #5 and #6 steps so that every word counts.
7.
Repeatedly practice saying it out loud and writing it so that your body moves
with the message.
If you are crafting a message you will write rather than speak, you might as well practice saying it too because:
• It will help you make your written
message more brief and conversational.
•
You’ll be so sought-after when they read you message they are going to want to
talk with you about “our” idea.
