How To Change Minds: The Impact of Framing on Thoughts and Behaviors | Nathaniel Kendall-Taylor
Sep 26, 2023
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Nathaniel Kendall-Taylor, CEO of the FrameWorks Institute, uses his expertise in psychological anthropology and communications science to discuss the profound impact of framing on public perception. He explains how information is often misinterpreted and how tailored communication can shift cultural mindsets. The conversation explores strategies for effectively conveying critical ideas, the nuances of adolescent narratives, and how rethinking workplace dynamics can foster social change. Kendall-Taylor emphasizes that changing how we present ideas is essential for mobilizing action and crafting a better future.
Effective framing of information is crucial for organizations to communicate complex social issues and engage public understanding.
Shifting the cultural mindset about employees from being seen as resources to valued customers can enhance workplace environments and productivity.
Deep dives
The Power of Frames and Framing
Frames influence how we perceive and process information, shaping our cultural mindsets. They foreground certain ideas while backgrounding others, such as how viewing interdependence can highlight collectivism at the expense of individualism. Framing is about the choices made in presenting ideas, from language to metaphors, all of which significantly affect understanding and emotional connection to the subject matter. Over time, persistent exposure to specific frames can lead to shifts in cultural mindsets, making certain ways of thinking more dominant within society.
Effective Communication Strategies
Nonprofits and organizations often struggle to communicate vital social issues effectively, which can lead to public misunderstandings. Identifying core messages is crucial, as it can be challenging to distill complex ideas into clear, powerful narratives. The right framing can facilitate deeper engagement with audiences, but it’s often not enough to simply craft compelling messages; a strong mobilization strategy is also necessary to disseminate those ideas widely. By analyzing existing narratives and exploring new positioning strategies, organizations can bridge the gap between critical information and public perception.
Historical Examples of Framing Shifts
Successful shifts in societal framing can be seen in historical contexts, particularly in tobacco advocacy, where the focus moved from individual responsibility to corporate accountability. This transition activated a new mindset that emphasized the role of systemic issues in public health rather than solely personal choices. Such examples illustrate how reframing issues can lead to different approaches to social problems, ultimately achieving broader support for necessary changes. The understanding that framing can evolve over time underlines the importance of consistency and persistence in communication efforts.
Employee Experience as a Frame for Change
The conventional view of employees as mere resources can be reframed to see them as customers, emphasizing the quality of work as a product in itself. This shift encourages organizations to focus on improving the employee experience rather than simply fixing perceived employee deficiencies. By treating work as a product designed to meet employee needs, it opens up innovative strategies to enhance workplace environments. Recognizing both employees and customers as vital elements in a multi-sided business model can create a more balanced and productive organizational culture.
Scientists, philanthropies, governments, and NGOs alike often find themselves in possession of an important truth that could improve the world, but the public just can't seem to hear it. As CEO of the FrameWorks Institute, Nathanial Kendall-Taylor knows that how we frame information significantly influences how people perceive and respond to it. Using rigorous social science methods, the Frameworks Institute provides evidence-based techniques that help non-profits communicate in a way that transforms public thinking and enacts social change.
Nat is an expert in psychological anthropology and communications science. In addition to his role as CEO, he is also a senior fellow at the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, a visiting professor at the Child Study Center at Yale School of Medicine, and a fellow at the British-American Project.
In this episode, Dart and Nat discuss: - What frames are and how they impact thinking and cultural mindsets - How the FrameWorks Institute helps organizations disseminate information and ideas - The keys to conveying important information effectively - The steps needed to shift a cultural mindset - The importance of a mobilization strategy when introducing a new idea - And other topics…
Nathaniel Kendall-Taylor is the CEO of the FrameWorks Institute, a communications think tank in Washington, DC that applies framing research methods to social issues and non-profit organizations. He is also a senior fellow at the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, a visiting professor at the Child Study Center at Yale School of Medicine, and a fellow at the British-American Project.
As an expert in psychological anthropology and communications science, Nat’s work has been published in peer-reviewed journals such as Science Communication, Human Organization, and Applied Communications Research. He is a global lecturer and has presented at conferences for the National Academy of Sciences, the Parenting Research Centre in Australia, the Science and Society Symposium in Canada, and Amnesty International in the United Kingdom.
Work with Dart: Dart is the CEO and co-founder of the work design firm 11fold. Build work that makes employees feel alive, connected to their work, and focused on what’s most important to the business. Book a call at 11fold.com.
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