Simplifying Your Message for Collaborative Impact

Published on March 13, 2023 by Greg Klimovitz

No matter how innovative your work is, communicating what you are passionate about is difficult. Crafting your message strategically can be the difference between effort and impact – between individual ideas and collaborative potential. This is especially true for leaders of faith communities, mission-driven movements, community organizers, and others who rely on networking to live into their values and reach their goals.

We bridge the gap between our passion and the vested interest of others through practice and intentionality in our messaging.

“You can’t rely on information alone – how you get your data and value across is arguably more important. A study from SOAP Presentations suggests that the effectiveness of presentations is only 7% determined by content; 38% is down to your voice, and 55% is non-verbal communication. Practicing is one of the best ways to correct inaccuracies and inconsistencies and come out with a seamless pitch when the day comes. It’s also a good way of easing nerves, with 90% of pre-presentation anxiety stemming from a lack of preparation. Practicing is essential if you want to stand out from the crowd.”
Courier, Sept. 16, 2021

In order to practice, refine, and deliver effective messages in real time, we have developed the C.R.E.A.T.E. model.

Context: Know the intended audience that your message seeks to serve, engage, and impact for the common good.

Resolution: Identify the problem(s) your mission solves or addresses for your audience. How do you uniquely resolve this issue?

Evidence: Compile data from research and early iterations of your mission that underscores values-centered goals.

Anecdotes: Collect stories from participants involved in any pilot initiatives. If nothing has been launched yet, what stories have you gathered that led you to this project?

Take Action: Invite those who receive your message to respond to your mission. Make sure that prospective partners have clear pathways to participation. Also, consider various levels of capacity and connection to your efforts.

Evaluate: Plan to receive feedback from others about how to refine messaging related to your mission. How will you learn about the impact and effectiveness of this dream becoming a reality? It is also important to note that assessment does not have to be driven by numbers alone. However, assessment and evaluation must be measurable and shareable in some way. Your evaluation process should also align with your community’s values and goals.

As you continue to explore the effective messaging of your mission, we invite you to join us for a Learning Live web conference on Tuesday, March 14 at 1:00 p.m. EST. I will be joined by Kyle Oliver, Head of Learning Media at Learning Forte. Together we’ll explore the C.R.E.A.T.E. model and set you on a path to enhanced collaborations through the intentional development of your message.

We hope to see you there.