Big Time Trends and the Shopping Days remaining until Christmas – SCN Encourager
Note today’s date. The magic number is down to 10.
That’s how many pressure-packed days we have left to buy presents for any of our gift-giving needs on the 25th.
It’s also the number of communication related TRENDS I’m going to count down for you day-by-day.
Of course, Cindy thinks I’m a knucklehead for even attempting to link together shopping days and the holidays with my research on the Top 1o Trends we’ll see in communications in 2015.
But unbeknownst to her, I actually like my chances of successfully pulling this one off.
After all, I’ve made myself immune from all manner of complaints and criticism.
If someone writes me and states that the trend I emphasized in a particular Encourager was dumb, I will reply, “Dear So-and-So: You missed the whole point. The Encourager you’re quibbling with was about shopping days, commercialism, and holiday stress. Sorry you got hung up on the trend thing.”
If someone writes me all upset about the holiday anecdote I used in a particular Encourager, I will reply, “Dear So-and-So: You missed the whole point. The Encourager you’re quibbling with was about growing in what you know and taking stock of emerging trends in communications. Sorry you got hung up on the holiday thing.”
So, you wouldn’t believe the confidence I possess as I roll out these 10 trends for you over the next few days – happily knowing that I already have two autoresponder messages on standby to zip right back to every dissenter and detractor. (except Cindy)
I just can’t wait to get started.
Trend #10 can be condensed into one word: CYCLES.
You know; those things that go round-and-round or move through various stages.
Cycles are firmly implanted in my mind right now because there are so many marketers and organizational planners currently writing about how they will grow in their critical importance.
As an old dad, I also can’t escape the “cycles” associated with my typical holiday lamentations.
When my three girls were little, I dreamed for the Christmases when they’d be older. (No more standing in long lines to see Santa, no more assembling toys at midnight, and no more cussing about those teeny-tiny lost parts and then discovering at the last second that batteries were required.)
Now that my girls are in their 20s, I wish they were little again.
That’s one of my goofy holiday time round-and-rounds.
And very December, with all of the activities it brings and inspires, no doubt has you joining me in some “cycling about” of our inner thoughts and emotions.
But you probably already knew that.
What the experts want you to be more aware of in 2015 is this; that your ability to identify and accurately assess the specific “cycle” impacting your organizational or project planning at every stage along the way is critical.
This is one of the few skills that’ll enable you stay ahead of the increasing speed of change.
The cycle-savvy among us are simply better strategists than the tech-savvy.
Imagine the concept this way.
Essentially, the same decision-making process (or cycle) is used by today’s chooser parents.
It’s a three part cycle for them:
First, they get to KNOW. (or become AWARE)
Then, they get a feeling for who they LIKE.
And finally, they straight-out choose who they TRUST.
That’s about it.
For example, you can see how a school mailing piece directed at the kindergarten parents in your community will receive varying responses based upon “the spot” every parent currently has on the decision-making cycle.
Communication strategies need to treat this KNOW – LIKE – and TRUST cycle for what is is –
your school communications reality.
Do you want to improve support and loyalty in your community?
Then work with your team to cycle up to more TRUST.
Would you like your school crisis communications plan to be ever-improving?
Work with your team to cycle up to more TRUST.
Think I’m dead wrong about all of this?
Please, please, please email me back.
For once, I’m actually ready!
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