How to Have a Good Day: Harness the Power of Behavioral Science to Transform Your Working Life

by Caroline Webb

GETTING THROUGH THEIR FILTERS Next time you’re intent on getting a message across: Provide a reward: surprise, novelty, or anticipation. Aim to get your audience to want to tell others what you said. Flag clearly the most interesting aspects of what you’re saying, so they don’t get buried, and promise a “reveal.” Try a different medium for getting your information across (e.g., posters, videos, hand-drawn pictures). Adopt an unusual vantage point. Emphasize the human angle, with the formula: “people plus positive emotion.” Show how your idea affects real people, and invite your audience to put themselves in their shoes. Explain why your message means so much to you or your audience. Inspire them by painting the picture of a potential positive outcome for everyone involved. Make it “fluent.” The easier it is to understand and remember, the more compelling your message will be. So: keep it simple and short; use signposts; use sticky phrases; give concrete examples; if you can, include a visual image to illustrate your point. Overcome the curse of knowledge. Don’t assume they know what you know. Ask what they understand and feel about the topic under discussion, and work from there. Stop to check their perspective as you’re talking.