Leadership and Change

Of course merely saying communication is important is a gross oversimplification. So, here is a list of the different facets of communication the evening compelled me to think of:

1. Write for your audience, not for yourself. Jack spoke of how different plays have been written specifically for different issues affecting different populations. Whether it was including R&B music in the play geared to young African Americans or including ASL translations on the TV screens for the audience members who don't know ASL, the audience is always the driving force behind how a message is framed and "packaged." If you want to inspire thought or change in an audience, you have to speak to them using their language.

2. Don't get lost in translations. Translation is a delicate process and when you're dealing with translations or even people from different cultures, it's wise to not take things at face value--dig a little to find out the true meaning or intentions of the words or gestures.

3. Use different forms of communication to convey your message. The more forms of communication you tap into, the more areas of the brain your message will reach and the more memorable your message will be. Write, speak, email, sing, paint, perform, anything.

4. Never underestimate the power of the narrative. The Mixed Blood Theater has been inspiring innovation and change through the power of narration for decades. We feel so compelled to argue our messages with statistics and facts, but our brains rely on emotion and narration to make decisions. I think of how even in this class, people have so frequently commented that other people's experiences and stories have been teaching them so much about the theories and concepts we're studying.

Can you think of a time you used a story at work/in the community/etc to inspire change?