My contribution to The Age of Conversation eBook is a simple essay (just over 400 words) on why work is personal and how we discover what is truly timeless. This was always the case, of course -- work is personal. Only in recent years, especially with the use of new tools and media that allow us to connect at increasing speed without the constrains of geography and physical fitness, more minds have joined in the creation of what's next.
Many of the questions every age asks itself are recurring, and they all fit under one timeless question: will what we do have an impact? We all want our work to outlast us. Period. And what makes a brand stand out is also what makes it worth engaging with. So there is another corollary question that goes with that -- what makes people join a brand and buy that product or service vs. another?
I used the title The Age of Conversation @ Work for two main reasons:
- Passion and heart have power in the flow of change -- conversation helps people with the constant need to make sense of what is happening around them and create what's next
- Conversation is a competitive advantage -- the output resulting from conversation is so much more powerful and easier to join
Successful brands -- our own and those of our products and services -- stand out for one simple reason. Find out more about my take by purchasing the eBook. This was a labor of love by 100 different authors; the proceeds go to Variety, the Children's Charity -- so stay tuned to learn about where to purchase it.
And while we're thinking about conversation at work, I would love to read your take on some powerful examples.
- What new product/service ended up selling better in the marketplace as the result of conversation?
- Which brands positioned the company in a new space by reinventing the conversation it was having with its customers?
- How did conversation lead the alignment of teams to serve customers better?
There is a method to my curiosity. We will look at how conversations can help you ask for permission to test run your projects before they go to market on a large and more committed scale. And we will also take note of what kind of storytelling will result from tested conversations.