In today’s episode, we dive deep into the intriguing world of perception and communication. It all begins with a story about how a seemingly simple movie night turned into a revelation about differing perspectives. We explore how our interpretations of the same events can vary widely, reflecting our own stories and lenses.
Joining us is Tamsen Webster, a message designer with 25 years of experience in marketing and messaging. She shares insights from her new book Say What They Can’t Unhear, unveiling why some messages stick while others fail to resonate. Tamsen introduces us to the four primary categories of listeners: actives, ambivalence, indifference, and antagonists. Each category requires a unique approach when crafting messages for effective communication.
Tamsen explains the critical importance of understanding the deeper ‘why’ behind our messages to reach our audience’s core beliefs and values. We discuss how influential stories and beliefs can shape perceptions, often leading us to believe in something despite contradicting evidence, as illustrated by the Theranos scandal.
We learn that to inspire change and build buy-in, we need to structure our messages around elements our audience already agrees with, support their deeper beliefs, and be patient as change happens in layers.
Key Learnings:
- Our personal lenses and stories shape how we interpret and perceive messages.
- There are four primary audience categories: actives, ambivalence, indifference, and antagonists.
- Understanding the deeper ‘why’ behind your message is crucial for effective communication.
- Our underlying stories and beliefs significantly influence our perceptions and can be manipulated.
- Change happens in layers, requiring patience and alignment with deeper principles and values.
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