March 2021 Mind Blown: The Eye-Opening Science Behind High-Conversion Engagement with Speaker Elizabeth Edwards, Founder and President @Volume Public Relations and Engagement Science Lab During this session, Elizabeth reviews the Six Commandments of Behavioural Communication. Long ago someone decided communicators would be too powerful if our skills were combined with what scientists know about the mind. So we call communication an art, and ignore the fact that science holds the keys to what happens while we process communication and make decisions. Then backfire happens. Misunderstanding flourishes. Debates and divides grow. This madness has to stop. The time has come for communicators to have simple access to the behaviour and motivation knowledge that will improve our ability to connect. How can we create maximum comprehension with words when the exact keys of how to do are not included in professional communication training? Our world is too noisy and the consequences of engaging amidst mis- and dis-information too severe to continue to keep communicators in a state of blindness about their Behavioural influence. It is time for the science of engagement. Take-a-ways: 1. New ways the mind processes communication and how to use this knowledge to tune your words and strategies for maximum positive response. 2. How to communicate around the biases and filters that are often the real culprit for communication interference and limit. 3. How to apply new science-based engagement strategies proven by brands like BMW, Transamerica, and Charter to increase comprehension, connection, and outcomes. January 2021 “The use (and abuse) of Survey research in Communications practice – lost opportunities” with Speakers: Annabel Dunstan, Founder & CEO of Question & Retain and Colin Wheeler, Managing Director of Survey Solutions. This session looked at: · How research is used in other areas e.g. customer satisfaction results to drive improvements in experience and improve loyalty/advocacy · How research is often used in the communications function · Why are there differences and what do these mean for practitioners and clients in communications · The implications for media monitoring and insights · The opportunity for practitioners, clients and monitoring agencies to use this type of data more effectively · Barcelona Principles and the Integrated Evaluation Framework – making you look good!