Haul out that holly, people. It's December. That means that whether you observe Christmas or not, you are inundated with incessant messages about giving. It's everywhere you go. Even self-published authors will exploit December and its gift-giving emotional blackmail to move books. (Not that I would know anything about that
.)
All too often, we forget that our audiences are subconsciously asking the question, “What's in it for me?”
Yet the giving of gifts is not unique to December alone, thankfully. Whether literal or figurative, we should give all year round. And so should your message.
The New Year will be here before we know it. So, we want to know your predictions about 2024! What changes and opportunities do you think will await organizations and professional communicators? Let us know
, and we may include them in the January issue of Focal Point.
Introducing List Bump: Lists of Actionable Insights for Better Branding, Messaging, and Marketing
! It is a succinct collection of advice compiled from nine years of blog posts by Spencer Brenneman Founder Douglas Spencer. Sample lists:
Three Stealth Threats to Your Brand You May Be Ignoring
Five Ways to Make Your Conversations Transformative
The Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership builds on the University's rich heritage of igniting positive action, fostering everyday leadership, and striving for lasting social justice. Their vision: Manifest equity in leadership in our lifetime. They offer groundbreaking inclusivity programs that support underrepresented populations as well as design, build, and deliver innovative on-site and online instruction that can be customized for any organization's leadership journey.
The Institute will host the 45th Simmons Leadership Conference (SLC) on April 4, 2024. The theme is “Creating Impact,” which focuses on shaping workplace cultures to equip leaders with the tools to lead with equity and inclusion — so every individual thrives. For more information, visit inclusiveleadership.com.
In this recurring feature of Focal Point, we profile people and organizations on a mission! (If you have someone to suggest, let us know! )
In Case You Missed It
Your Message in an Uncertain World
Annual Report White Paper
Well Said
“The great enemy of communication, we find, is the illusion of it.”
—William H. Whyte
William Foote Whyte (1914 – 2000) was an American sociologist, chiefly known for his ethnographic study in urban sociology, Street Corner Society. A pioneer in participant observation, he lived for four years in an Italian community in Boston while a Junior Fellow at Harvard researching social relations of street gangs in Boston's North End. PHOTO: Island Press
POINT US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION?
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