What are the best practices for framing your message in terms of values and beliefs?

If you write for everybody, you're writing for no one. It always starts with who! And it's always about your audience, even in your "about us section". So here's a set of questions to help get to know your audience "insights out." 💬 Who are the people critical to your success? 💬What is their end game that your community is the perfect answer to? 💬What are their pain points/frustrations when achieving their end game? 💬 What drives them along the way? Their must-haves and no-nos? 💬 Who/ where do they turn to for advice?

As the Crow flies - also applies to being Clear, Direct, and to the point with describing and communicating values and beliefs. Too often we like to hear ourselves speak in written form and it takes a couple of paragraphs to convey the message in one sentence. The risk here is alienating the audience since they have to get through the murky waters just to figure out what the heck you are talking about - so do them a favor; 1 - use economy of words 2 - be Clear, Concise and To The Point Then... go over examples that will strengthen your purgatives...

Preface the statement with "it is my belief," or "in my experience," and then state what your value is. If my value is time to pursue outside opportunities like taking an art class or playing a musical instrument and you value is money and significance at work, that's fine. We may disagree, but we have to agree that we have to make the best choice for ourselves because we have to live with ourselves and not succumb to peer pressure. also, people are built differently, personality, habits, life experiences and even though we have to get along and communicate, we can bring our special self into the circle.

During the Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King Jr. strategically chose values that resonated deeply with their audience and the broader American society. He emphasized principles of justice, equality, and freedom in their message. These values were not only relevant to the cause of ending racial segregation and discrimination but also aligned with the broader ideals of a just and inclusive society. By framing their message around these core values, they were able to mobilize a widespread movement, appealing to the collective conscience and inspiring millions to join the fight for civil rights. This strategic use of values played a pivotal role in driving the progress and eventual success of the movement.

Exactly, values serve as a powerful foundation for framing your message. When you align your communication with shared values, it not only resonates more strongly but also fosters a sense of connection and understanding. It's like building a bridge between your message and what your audience cares about most.

The best way to frame your beliefs is to demonstrate them clearly without apology or hesitation. You don't need to be explain in detail what your values and beliefs are as they become apparent in your delivery. Your choice of words convey what you stand for and where you are going with your belief system in play. Further, your actions provide the impact for demonstrating your values and beliefs in all of your nonverbal communication including eye contact, gestures, placement of self on stage, and how you dress. Consistency is key.

In my experience as a social worker it would be inauthentic to ask others to go to those spaces where they give of themselves and tell their stories without us digging the same ground.

Pope Francis has consistently linked his values to his beliefs in his advocacy for social justice and environmental stewardship. He values compassion, equality, and care for the planet. He grounds these values in the belief that addressing issues like poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation is not only a moral imperative but also a reflection of Christian teachings. He frames his message as a call to action, urging individuals and institutions to prioritize the well-being of the vulnerable and to be responsible stewards of the Earth. This approach has had a profound impact on shaping global conversations about social and environmental issues, inspiring many to take meaningful steps toward positive change.

When it comes to values one has to look at his/her principles and what society adjudge as good morals but beliefs are very sensitive and therefore one has to be very cautious when addressing community members. Therefore, it will be prudent to know your audience before framing statements that touch on beliefs

Barack Obama's communication style often incorporated the use of stories and metaphors to effectively convey his values and beliefs. When advocating for immigration reform, he shared stories of immigrant families striving for a better life, highlighting their contributions to American society. He employed metaphors that painted a vivid picture of the American dream, emphasizing the notion that the nation's strength lies in its diversity. By weaving these narratives into his speeches, Obama was able to engage his audience emotionally and make a compelling case for policy changes aligned with his values of inclusivity and opportunity for all. This approach contributed to the national conversation on immigration reform.

Story telling is key to drawing in your listeners and readers: your audience. Stories from the heart, stories with emotion and meaning, stories that captivate and have drama and pathos are essential to engaging meaningfully. Stories from eye-witness accounts or from personal experience have a truth and depth that can't be matched by outsourcing.

That's great advice, but DON'T overdo it with the metaphors. AI has made it too easy to come up with forced metaphors that are just too much - less is more when it comes to that (maybe find one and use it as the core of your brand message, but again - less is more. People are there to be engaged, and your fifth gardening metaphor in a piece about marketing isn't going to impress anyone).

Don't test with your audience first! Start with your team. Go through your messaging house (what you stand against, your purpose, mission, impact statement and brand pillars), and ask your team to retrofit your brand actions under each pillars. This will ensure everyone in your team speaks in a cohesive, thus more powerful brand voice. And you will very quickly get feedback on your messaging. Then A/B test different landing pages to understand what works best with your audience (spoiler alert: impact-led messaging resonates better than product-led messaging). Finally, test your messaging with the media: if the problem you solve is big enough, relevant media with whom you share an audience will want to write about it.

A great tip is to simply go back to the copy after a day (if the time allows it, I recommend even more - 3-4 days work much better, but one day is great, too). This essentially resets your current perspective (which is often motivated by your writing effort, your willingness to do a good job, your frustration at that half-empty cup of coffee etc). That perspective affects what you see in your text. Allowing your perspective to be reset reveals super useful stuff you might have missed the first time through.

As a community organizer, you always have to make sure you recognize the community as experts over their own lives. This is critical.

If you're organizing around progressive issues, it's important to keep your message grounded in a solutions oriented framework. Progressives are tired of 'fighting against' various issues and are more motivated and likely to join your cause if you can frame it more in a 'fighting for' framework that is rooted in solutions and building a better tomorrow.

Communications is more sophisticated and interdisciplinary than most "outsiders" know. There's no #silverbullets and various things we must consider in building our messages. You need data, an understanding of framing, and the right vehicles (or credible messengers) to deliver the message. Issues change over time, just look at #smoking.

Communications is important, be it internally or externally. The way we communicate can impact our relationships, emotions, and mental health. This applies in both professional and personal capacities. Values are a great way to guide how we engage the people around us. However, for me, the most important thing is to be honest and authentic in what is being communicated. Don't simply follow the herd or the latest trends. Trends are transient. Communications built on authentic and real messaging stands the test of time.