One of the biggest questions for me has been “How do I change peoples’ behavior?” and more recently “How do I change people’s opinion?” The first is concrete and measureable. The second is softer and for more difficult to measure.
In a recent article in Forbes online about transforming your company for growth I found some help. One of the quotable quotes:
”Prioritize Tangible Projects Over Intangible ‘Cultural Change’ Efforts – Remember, culture is a lagging, not a leading, variable. Culture changes when people change what they do and how they interact. Working on tangible projects first can be a way to encourage these changes.”
As a manager, lead with the behaviors and those projects that will change behaviors. The opinions and culture will follow.
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Robin. Very Thought provoking. Have you thought about entering the trance of the groups you are effectively trying to persuade? I would think that trying to change peoples minds, habits, and decisions would be similar to swimming upstream. Comparatively, entering the trance of your target market or group is like swimming downstream.
I am a woodturner and artist. Many of my clients never knew what woodturning was before I introduced them to it. Why would they care? Why bother looking?
An example: My targeted circles of people are interested in tech, geeks, programmers, social media, etc….
I create a line of art called “We are all Connected” and the line of art sells out in record time.
Why? Because I have entered the trance of the people I have targeted. I have created an emotional and intellectual bond between their trance and mine.
Approach your market at their level. Enter their trance, no matter what that might be, and you’ll have a much better chance of persuading that group.
Keith Burtis
(New Media Artist)