The Wise 8: Top Tips for 2019 🦉
We know communication plays a crucial role in creating positive and lasting change in the world. But this period of rapid change, political shifts, and fake news makes the work of cause-oriented leaders even harder.
With the constant bombardment of information, how can we sift through the clutter and do what needs to be done to communicate effectively?
We asked some of our favorite communication experts to share their top tips this 2019!
Tip 1: Remember, it’s not about you.
“Good communication is an exercise in humility. Because you always have to regard your audience’s viewpoint as more important than your own.”
Oya Arriola, Communication Strategist and founding partner at WiseOwl
Tip 2: Experience is king.
“2018 was a tough year for consumer goods where rising prices forced consumers to scale down. People are now conscious of their ability to happily live on what is essential.
2019 will be about consumer value. To survive, every company must act like small and medium enterprises — know each customer intimately, be agile in response, and give them an experience that is more than just transactional.”
Eunice Gan, Strategic Planning Consultant
Tip 3: Everyone’s a content creator, even your audience.
“Don’t underestimate the power of giving your audience the chance to participate and write their own story. Even if the concept is rudimentary, if it came from the users, chances are it will stick better than the most brilliantly conceptualized creative.”
Rocky Tirona, Social Marketing Specialist and VP at Rare Philippines
Tip 4: Your data-gathering must keep up with the pace.
“Differences between generations have become more pronounced due to technological developments and the speed at which trends change. Technology has shaped our views, habits and preferences, thereby changing how we make decisions. We need to understand people faster now, and so market agencies are becoming more agile, more flexible, more attuned with the public pulse in order to provide insights that will bridge the gaps.”
Wati Doctor, Market Research Expert and President at Thinkscape Research
Tip 5: Want to change behaviors? Influence the environment.
“Before you jump on the behavior change bandwagon, consider whether you have insight into what will motivate your audience to adopt a new behavior and what enabling factors around them need to be in placein order to make the new behavior desirable and easy to do.”
Michelle Pascual, Behavior Change Communication Advisor at Rare Philippines
Tip 6: If you wish to win, believe you can.
“Advocates can’t effect change if they don’t believe they can win against the system. People won’t rally behind a losing proposition. Remember that emotional energy is contagious. And, often times the best strategy is about figuring out how to harness excitement around a shared vision.”
Mika Ortega, Communication Manager and founding partner at WiseOwl
Tip 7: Always edit with a cold heart.
“Design needs a reason for being. Start with the problem, and figure out how design can solve it. Any visual element that doesn’t help communicate the solution, take it out.”
Joza Nada, Creative Director and founding partner at WiseOwl
Tip 8: Don’t forget: emotions are super powers.
“Fear kills. Death wakes up epiphanies. Love is more immeasurable than dark matter and dark energy.”
Ompong Remigio, advertising hall of fame, co-founder and Chief Creative at FatFree, Inc.
