HearSay: Lessons in Effective Communication & Messaging

What were those top Language Moments of 2023? As language experts, we're always listening for those moments that change the way we view companies, politics, business… and each other. From Bidenomics to MAGAnomics, from rainbow capitalism to Barbenheimer, this year had more than its share of new language moments, and in this new episode of Hearsay, Michael Maslansky, Lee Carter, and guest Ben Felle...

Congratulations, you've set your sustainability goals! Now you actually have to achieve them. How do you make environmental sustainability work for your business? It all comes back to people. Selling in, rolling out, and scaling up real, functional sustainability programs requires understanding your employees. It requires a thoughtful business case, careful change management, and, of course, the r...

How can a simple shift in language revolutionize perceptions? In this special episode of HearSay, join Pile of Scrap host John Sacco as he engages with communication expert Michael Maslansky where they explore the rebranding of the recycled materials industry. From redefining raw materials to spotlighting its vital role in iconic products, Michael's insights guide listeners on embracing recycled m...

How can companies use language to overcome fear and build trust in AI? In this episode, Michael Maslansky, Keith Yazmir, and Robert Ledniczky dive into the rapidly changing world of AI and explore how companies should be talking about it. They discuss widespread concerns and excitement surrounding AI to set the stage for recommendations on how to generate trust. By narrating the AI story with a fo...

Not all actions that companies take in the name of ESG are controversial. How do some companies manage to seamlessly integrate ESG initiatives into their brand messaging while others get accused of superficial "greenwashing" or "rainbow-washing"? In this episode of Hearsay, Michael Maslansky, Will Howard, and Keith Yazmir discuss the delicate balance of serving stakeholders while remaining authent...

What's the future for ESG now that it has become politicized? Can companies speak out on ESG without risk of being criticized as Woke Capitalists or should they really just focus on products and profits? What if the most controversial aspect of ESG is the language used to talk about? In this episode of HearSay, Michael Maslansky, Lee Carter, and guest Will Howard cover new research on the language...

We all know it's critical to understand your audience before creating any marketing, but how do you do it in an intellectually honest way?  How do you make sure you are truly focused on your audience as they are, not as you want them to be? In this episode of HearSay, guest Ori Ben Yishai, a partner at Viewpoint Ventures, talks about the intellectually honest approach to insights and how to use wh...

Every customer communication, no matter how small, is a moment of trust. Transactional communications—like order confirmations, account updates, or payment notices—can have an outsized effect on your brand and reputation. After all, the brand customers  know  is the one they experience every day. What makes  good customer communications? And how can the language you choose help you make the most o...

Scientists and c limate activists have been warning people that the world is ending since the 80s. The U.N. recently upped the stakes in the climate report. How do you make people care when they've been hearing the house is on fire for 40 years? Is this the issue that cried wolf? In this latest episode of HearSay, Will Howard and Director of Ad Net Zero John Osborn share their insights on the mess...

Connecting with customers is a challenge. It has to start with finding shared goals and a shared language. In this episode, guest Bob Rowe from Northwestern Energy shares his approach to creating common ground with your audience — so you can build trust, improve relationships, and reinforce reputation.

It's not enough to do good nowadays. In a competitive environment, you need to find the right language to distinguish your organization from the rest. In this episode, guest Brian Crimmins, CEO of Changing Our World, Global Partner of ONE HUNDRED, and co-author of The Generosity Crisis: The Case for Radical Connection to Solve Humanity's Greatest Challenges shares his expertise on how nonprofits c...

The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank kicked off a heated debate: are we headed toward a financial crisis? One thing's for sure: we're already in a financial COMMUNICATIONS crisis. We've been watching how companies are talking—or not talking—about the state of the US financial system. And we have a few thoughts on what they're getting right and wrong. Join Lee Carter, Katie Cronen, Will Howard, and...

HearSay for 2022 ends with a bang, as we look at the smartest, savviest, + stupidest messages of 2022. Michael Maslansky and Lee Carter are joined by HearSay veterans Keith Yazmir and Ben Feller, sharing their takes on the top pop culture language moments of the year: from Tom Brady and Will Smith's outbursts to Serena Williams' retirement to Jennifer Aniston's conversation around her IVF journey....

Internal company communications often is just about sharing information. Employees are busy and can skip over communications, because they feel less important. Getting internal communications right -- communications that breaks through -- especially in a virtual or hybrid workplace is particularly important. It has to be relatable, urgent, and clear . Because it helps how we work together, how we...

Whether it's public or private, kindergarten or college, schools and school systems today have objectives, just like any business might. They need to recruit faculty, attract students, raise funding, fight for policies, appeal to parents, win the big game, and achieve any of a dozen other essential objectives. They need to express the value of the service they provide. A service that's abstract, e...

At its core, good language strategy finds language that motivates people to take action. It's how business is done and how elections are won. But voters find themselves increasingly focused on more and more issues, and what we like to call "wedge" issues aren't wedges anymore — they're make or break issues. In the 2018 election cycle, political messages hinged on the single issue of healthcare. Le...

We're all creatures of habit, and we default to certain forms of communication without even realizing it. But what if those defaults are actually hurting your daily potential? Whether it's in a meeting, in a customer service interaction, or even in a negotiation, the way you set yourself up and communicate in interactions changes the outcome. Lee Carter is joined by Keith Yazmir and Ben Feller for...

When you are trying to build (or re-build) reputation, your job is to disrupt the way people think. And to disrupt, you can't just speak louder, you need to speak smarter. Instincts tell us to correct misperceptions. And our instincts are often wrong. Leaning in to facts and data often backfires. Change the narrative and you can change minds. Lee Carter and Michael Maslansky are joined by Senior V...

Language shapes how we view the world around us. The news is no exception. A border crisis. An immigration crisis. A humanitarian crisis. All language used to describe the same story but changes how we view it. Michael and Lee are joined by m+p Partner Ben Feller to talk about the value of personalization, why keeping it simple in your messaging gets you further, and what the idea of credibility a...

You might think that empathy is as simple as putting yourself in someone else's shoes. But it's much more complicated. While most of us have empathy for people who we care about and love, we don't have a natural ability to have empathy for people who aren't like us. This distinction is easy to ignore until we realize that the audiences we're focused on reaching with messages that resonate aren't j...

You know your company or product is different. But does it sound different?  Sometimes all that differentiates you from the competition is your story. The right language can change behavior, perception, and drive sales. How that story is framed matters more than you think. Using examples like "zero proof" non-alcoholic beverages, a "no hoops" rewards credit card, and an insurance company that "loo...

Language changes the way we view the world, politics, business, and products. Sometimes, it's totally intentional. Sometimes, it's not. But there is no doubt that the effective use of language can drive behavior. And that's what language strategy is all about. Finding the language that changes the game. President Lee Carter and CEO Michael Maslansky are joined by Partner Keith Yazmir to talk about...

Season One of HearSay ends with a bang: the smartest, savviest, + stupidest messages of 2021 so far. Michael and Lee are joined by HearSay veterans Keith and Katie to give their takes on the messages that have stood out: from Voltswagen , to Harry and Megan's Oprah interview (and the royal response) , to President Biden's infrastructure plan, and the true pronunciation of "cheugy." They focus in n...

With everyone telling their sustainability story, a re you cutting through the crowd? Have you found one bold idea to center your communications around? It used to be that sustainability experts evaluated how companies were performing in this area.  But now, customers and employees alike are paying attention . The old language of sustainability doesn't work now. This week on HearSay, Michael and L...

Which audience is most important for your business? Many say it's clients or customers. But often the most overlooked and valuable audience is your employees.   Whether it's communicating about the post-COVID return, your mission and values, or your new offerings, how you engage your employees is critical to your business success . This week on HearSay, Michael and Lee welcome Larry Moscow and Kat...