The Life Saving Power of the Right Message: Why the Message Matters
Over the years it’s been said that words are singularly the most powerful force available to humanity. Words have the ability to help, lift, heal, hinder, hurt, or harm. What you say can instantaneously inspire or immediately cut. The spectrum is broad and the power of a message – or – word can alter the course of history and inspire change.
This past month, our team deployed solutions and text communication journey’s that actually saved lives – yes a text saved a life! It may seem exaggerated that a text message could actually save a life, but its happened – numerous times. It’s an empathetic question of how are you doing – a message of encouragement – a word of hope – a connection made through an open two way dialog – the timing of a message – the words themselves – IT ALL MATTERS and our teams built experiential journeys that positively altered the course of individuals actions leading them to help, restoration, and hope for the future through a simple text message hotline! That my friends is awesome and is the core of why we exist – to truly help people!
I don’t share this story for any other reason than the power of a word – and why messaging matters. The medium (text) is simply the delivery mechanism – to build impactful, engaging, and empathic messaging that drives behavioral change requires expertise. There is a science to successful communication interactions. I’ve spent the last twenty years in the communications space and studying the power of communication. From the beginning through today – the ability to affect emotion through a word has been proven over and over again. This is why law enforcement agencies like the FBI, when negotiating, have developed models to change the course of an individuals actions just through dialog – communication – an effective word. The model is called the Behavioral Change Stairway and consists of the following:
Active Listening: Listen to their side and make them aware you’re listening.
Empathy: You get an understanding of where they’re coming from and how they feel.
Rapport: Empathy is what you feel. Rapport is when they feel it back. They start to trust you.
Influence: Now that they trust you, you’ve earned the right to work on problem-solving with them and recommend a course of action.
Behavioral Change: They act. (And maybe come out with their hands up.)
These techniques can be applied in everyday negotiation scenarios. It’s not only useful crisis negotiation, — it can be applied to almost any form of disagreement, or conflict in life or communication.
We can effect so much about the future through effective communication – focusing on what we say, why we say it, when we say it, and where we say it. Our mission at Kerauno begins with “We Exist To Help People” and all of the technology, data, tools, science, and expertise that our teams employ are driven from that core foundation. If you have an interest in learning more about the science of communication or how effective SMS/TEXT messaging can impact your business text KLAUNCH to 55433 to start your journey. Messaging Matters – and it is even saving lives!