February, 2015
REASONS TO SAY YES TO “WE”!
We have made the shift from telling the story of “me” to “we”. This cultural shift has been brought about with instant communications, global connections, the new Millennial generation now speaking out, to name just a few igniters. Culture, personal and business, now asks: “How can we make our world a better place?
Why “we”?
The first question we ask now is “what are your needs”, rather than give a long list of the “whats” of what you do so very well. The “forward into change” cry for the 95 million strong Millennials (an even larger group than the change agents of the Boomer era) has a much more optimistic look at our current culture than the negative spin we are immersed in. For this generation, the future is brighter due to their need and drive to be globally responsible citizens. Cyberspace is the tool that both finds and publishes news and sharing of information to foster this caring revolution.
The above is a very simplistic summary of this movement to “we”. It’s all about “how can this help”, asking for tools that will facilitate understanding, sharing and communicating new powerful ideas and movements.
Mother Teresa reflects the attitude now moving to the fore in this quote: “Unless a life is lived for others, it is not worthwhile.”
Bottom line: What folks respond to is the showing of “care”. Not necessarily pure info or knowledge. Now knowledge needs to come with the offer of care. What will that know-how, intelligence, do to help either “me” or the “whole”?
Mother Teresa reflects the attitude now moving to the fore in this quote: “Unless a life is lived for others, it is not worthwhile.”
Caring is King! Show that you care.
Now the emotional involvement of caring along with hard strategic process is coming into being and moving folks forward to both personal and business well-being!
The shift I have seen reflected in workshops, events, gatherings, brainstorm sessions, meetings, has been incredible in seeing what sparks the audience…their questions, their attention. My findings are that folks remark and quickly notice the sketches that show a personal experience of “caring”. That “big picture” of ideas and places is great, it is the “small more intimate picture” that gets remembered. Like that quaint little garden seen through an ancient doorway while strolling along a foreign blvd., an intimate experience with space…now THAT is Rome! From places, experiences, ideas…when “care” is shown it touches an audience very deeply.
Communications of “care” you can offer:
1. Approach your partnership or teaching with “What can I do for you?” Find out what their needs are before you outline or present your message. Base your teachings with tools that can address a need, a want, and a desire that touches “heart essence”. It’s not just about “product” or benefit…it is about helping folks feel better, making their life better.
2. WIFM: (What’s in it for me) Still exists, it has to! We all need to take care of “me”…we are just doing this now to add to the “we”. Each person is connected and “me” has a bigger meaning now. Show them you know that taking care of their needs also takes care of yours. Mutual WIFM= great loyalties show up between the two or three or four of you.
3. Be sure to provide follow up constructive suggestions, take the time to find positive ways to help folks with change…and show that you are also open to positive feedback. Be sure to “compliment” first, then give a constructive point. We all love compliments, give with sincerity.
4. Caring comes with quick gestures of communications, messaging…short and sweet is the format. Let your audience know that you care about them immediately and not on page 10!
5. Set yourself apart from others by thanking folks for their time with a REAL snail mail written note. Something they can hold, touch, feel. Handwrite your thanks. Handwrite your outgoing envelope too. Stay away from formatted printed out address labels…all needs to be “personal”. (You can also text, email, etc., and do send out the personal touch of a real letter too.)
6. If possible, take the time to meet in person. The human “touch” brings great rewards. Studies have found that one on one “hello” with handshake or slight touch (or hugs!) register “caring” and folks are more satisfied with the transactions as they are “touched”.
7. Communicate with visuals to get everyone’s input, ideas, comments…and to illustrate process quickly. Folks want to see “now” how you care, how you are going to find solutions to make their world better. Audiences are not willing to “skim” to find the gems…lay the treasure of what and how you care immediately, right in front of them with visual talk story!
What does this new world of communicating caring “look like”? It’s a visual communications world now; quick, simple, focused illustrations that boil complex and technical are being used to make experience “human”, able to touch the hearts of people, offering care. It’s a personal visual “touch” that touches others more than the same stock photos used over and over. The “We” generation honors the “unique” in others.
“Do you care?”, “How do you care?”: Key questions now being asked of business and personal culture.
Top of mind questions being asked both aloud and internally. “We” shapes our world now…so turn that “me” into a genuine caring (some call this loving what you do as well as showing love for others) that creates “greater” for all.
I would love to connect up with you and discover how I can be of help to you with your visual storytelling. Give me a call to do some brainstorming or discovery on how you can show your story of caring, how you can contribute to your client’s well-being. Say YES to “We”!
Love it if you shared. Click the link icons below!
I’m Paula Brown; Visual Scribe / Feng Shui practitioner / Author / Animal Communicator. I am a visual storyteller showing you how to IGNITE YOUR STORY, YOUR ENERGY, YOUR WELL-BEING for both business and home. My site is: www.chilightful.com Connect on: LinkedIn, Twitter. and you can “like” my facebook page at: www.facebook.com/ChiLightful
