Funny Story Illustrates the Power of Perception
The following humorous story, as recounted in John Maxwell’s Developing the Leader Within You (an excellent book, by the way), illustrates the power of perception and preconceived notions:
After World War II, a general and his young lieutenant boarded a train in England. The only seats left were across from a beautiful young lady and her grandmother. The general and the lieutenant sat facing the women. As the train pulled out, it went through a long tunnel. For about ten seconds, there was total darkness. In the silence of the moment, those on the train heard two things — a kiss and a slap. Everyone on the train had his or her own perception of what happened.
A Media Relations Lesson from Sidney Lowe
According to this WRAL.com article, N.C. State men’s basketball coach Sidney Lowe met with a small gathering of reporters yesterday.
Before I get to the heart of this post, it is important to point out that one of the most challenging things to handle in an interview is when the reporters are intent on asking questions that have absolutely nothing to do with the purpose of the interview.
In this case, the purpose of Coach Sidney Lowe’s meeting with reporters was to talk about the upcoming basketball season. However, it was a likely bet that at least one reporter would bring up the recent, highly-publicized legal troubles surrounding Coach Lowe’s son.
N&O: New Ad Aims to Show What the Client Isn't: A Badger
An article in Wednesday’s issue of The News & Observer highlights an ad campaign recently developed for Johnson Automotive of Raleigh. According to the article, the ad was developed by the same agency that created what have become advertising icons for insurer Geico: a gecko and the cavemen.
The N&O’s headline for the article says that the campaign aims to show what the client isn’t. The ads feature a badger. The message: we won’t badger you.
N.C. Panel Discusses Crisis Communication in Wake of Virginia Tech Shootings
In the wake of the recent shootings at Virginia Tech, the issue of how to most effectively communicate with students during a crisis has become an important one. A panel of North Carolina college and law-enforcement officials gathered at Shaw University yesterday to discuss campus safety and crisis communication issues. The Winston-Salem Journal has the details.
Great Ad
We have most likely seen this AFLAC ad, but it is still worth posting. In my view, their ad campaign is one of the most memorable I’ve seen.
Article Underscores Importance of Customer Perception
In an article entitled The Value of User Perception in Intranet Development, Paul Chin discusses the importance of monitoring and managing customers’ perception. While this article is written specifically in the context of intranet development, it offers lessons for all of us.
Here is one worthwhile highlight from the article:
“All the carefully planned hype and marketing surrounding a system can be undone by a steady stream of negative feedback from within the user community itself — justified or not. Sometimes it’s even enough for a single, well-respected intranet expert to say ‘this stinks’ to unravel months of promotion and spin. You can never underestimate the power of one voice to sway user opinion.”
Ad Agency: Perception Wal-Mart's Biggest Problem
This article describes a report written by an ad agency that was fighting to keep Wal-Mart’s business last year. According to the article, the agency’s report describes the potential impact of perception on the retailer’s fortunes. The article has this to say: “An advertising agency fighting to keep Wal-Mart’s business last year told the world’s largest retailer that while it was a ‘positive force’ because low prices helped shoppers lead better lives, the company suffered a lack of respect that could drive away shoppers.”
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