From Our Blog, Ripples & Wipeouts
Robert Caldini is the godfather of the study of influence and is someone who is almost always studied by people who do any type of marketing. I find that his principles are also useful in crafting communications that are designed to build teamwork and inspire groups of people. There are lots of good examples of how Caldini’s principles play out in the workplace, both in nonprofit and for-profit enterprises, as well as government agencies. Here are Caldini’s six principles of influence, along with some examples I’ve created to illustrate each principle.
Storytelling was one of the big topics discussed among communications professionals throughout 2011. Hot topics in the business seem to wax and wane and for some reason it was storytelling’s turn last year. If one aspires to leadership, the ability to tell a good story is an essential skill. But not just any story. A leadership story must have a clear point, and be applicable to a range of situations and a diverse audience.
Previous Entries
view archives|rss- May Your Holidays Be Merry & BrightDec 17, 2011
- Rescuing Rex or Famous Last Words: A story told in quotationsNov 14, 2011
- THE VIP FIVE (Very Important Press)Aug 31, 2011
What We're Reading
Clive Finlayson’s examination of alternative explanations for why other types of humans (e.g., Neanderthals) went extinct and we (Homo sapiens sapiens) did not is an interesting read for people who are intrigued by evolutionary biology and related topics. In short, he challenges the conventional theories that assume “modern” man (aka ‘us’) survived because we possessed superior intellect and creativity.
more >Featured Case Study
Case Study: Building Community Bridges’ African-American Cemetery Project
Building Community Bridges (BCB) is a nonprofit civic group based in the Village of Port Chester, in Westchester County, NY. Its mission is to provide a safe forum where residents respectfully explore their differences, discover their affinities and appreciate one another’s diverse experiences and points of view. In search of a project that would bring the community together, the organization’s leaders decided to restore a neglected African-American cemetery that was part of the larger Greenwood Union Cemetery in nearby Rye. Make Waves consultant Joan Grangenois-Thomas was asked to help get media attention for the cemetery, as well as for a memorial service that BCB was holding to honor the veterans who are buried there.