Written by: Vickie Sullivan | January 03, 2019
How to Make Weird Ideas Relevant
Being at the TEDWomen conference last month reminded me why I check out of my daily routine and learn new things: You never know when weird information can come in handy.
Exhibit A: zoologist Lucy Cooke’s talk on sloths. Yep, that’s right. Ten minutes on sloths. I didn’t expect to be as interested in those creatures, yet I was fascinated throughout Cooke’s talk. Here are two strategies she used that drew me in that all thought leaders can apply to their own situations:
• Fun labels. Cooke went beyond being funny (which helped a lot) and into labels that created a killer mental picture. Examples: Mouth fart created a huge laugh and set up a humorous explanation of digestive systems. “Clandestine booty call” is another great example. Labels make our ideas sticky and sharable.
• Links to our humanity. Cooke’s passion for sloths were linked to a universal message about the standards we use for judging something. Her points made sloths an example of something much bigger and as such, increased the relevance of her subject.
Listen: A Unique Way to Address Common Criticisms
We thought leaders are expected to have provocative perspectives. Using these techniques will make sure our opinions stay relevant.
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