# Clear Points Messaging Full Content

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## Page: HOMEPAGE

Communication Training | Dallas, Texas | Clear Points Messaging LLC
            
															
		
 
Strengthen your communication skills
 
AI is creating a sea of sameness in marketing and communication. Professionals today are outsourcing their writing and their thinking to AI. 
To be heard. To stand out. To be remembered. You need to think and communicate differently. At Clear Points, we show you the fundamentals of clear messaging and framing techniques that the best communicators use to express their ideas.
 
Work With Clear Points
Brainstorm Sessions | Team Training | Strategic Consulting 
		
					
									Contact Clear Points
					
															
															
		
 
[ AT&T MANAGER ] • EXECUTIVE COACHING • MESSAGE STRATEGY • PERFORMANCE REVIEW
Messaging Framework Helped AT&T Manager Reverse a Negative Review
View Case Study
		
															
															
		
[ FACEBOOK ] • TECHNICAL TRAINING • INFLUENCE WORKSHOP • MESSAGE FRAMEWORK
Taught 600+ Facebook Analysts to Communicate With Clarity and Influence
View Case Study
		
															
															
		
[ STARTUP ] • DATA SCIENCE • MESSAGE STRATEGY • RETAIL PITCH
Message Clarity Helped a Data Science Team Land a $300K Contract
View Case Study
		
					
Communication Services
				
									
							Personal Communication Coaching						
					
									
						Tailor-made one-on-one sessions aimed at boosting your public speaking, interpersonal skills, and clarity in expression. Perfect for individuals aiming to excel in both professional and personal communication.					
									
							Professional Development Workshops						
					
									
						Customized interactive workshops designed to enhance team communication, leadership skills, and employee engagement. Ideal for fostering a collaborative and effective workplace culture.					
									
							Employee Communication Training						
					
									
						Specialized training sessions designed to enhance communication skills among employees, focusing on effective internal messaging, understanding, and collaboration. This service aims to improve workplace interactions, ensuring that all team members can communicate clearly.					
									
							Communication Strategy Consulting						
					
									
						Strategic consulting services that help organizations develop and implement effective communication frameworks tailored to their unique objectives and challenges. This service is ideal for businesses seeking to improve overall communication efficiency, 					
					
									Contact Clear Points
					
					
Think it. Frame it. Say it.
				
		
When you can’t express an idea, your thoughts are jumbled. You feel stuck.
But with the right clarity and the right frame, you know what to say.
That’s when the momentum starts.
Frame your message. Unlock clarity.
		
					
									Start Building Your Message
					
		
Communication Skills Training | Online & in Dallas, Texas
		
		
 
Communication holding you back?
Break free and achieve your goals.
		
					
Communicate Clearly. Build Trust. Inspire Action.
				
									
							Cut Through
The Noise						
					
									
						
Stop sending messages that miss the mark. Get clarity and confidence in your communication in just 2 hours.
					
					
									Get Message Clarity Now
					
									
							Build Your 
Influence Plan						
					
									
						
Unlock Strategic Communication to Align Stakeholders, Gain Resources, and Execute With Impact
					
					
									Elevate Your Impact
					
									
							Build a High 
Performance Team						
					
									
						
Master the Communication Skills That Drive Collaboration, Efficiency, and Success.
 					
					
									Build a Stronger Team
					
					
Transform Your Jumbled Thoughts into Concise Points
				
		
It's highly recommended that you get started here, with this three-minute exercise. 
		
					
									Start here
					
					
What We Do
				
							
							
											
											Workbook
											
									
								
											
											Workshops
											
									
								
											
											Employee Communications Training
											
									
								
											
											Coaching
											
									
								
											
											Strategic Messaging
											
									
						
					
2425 N Central Expy #700,
Richardson, TX 75080
contactus@clearpointsmessaging.com

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## Page: 4 INTROVERT TRAITS THAT CREATE BETTER COMMUNICATION

4 Introvert Traits that Create Better Communication
            
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Introverts have characteristics that can make them a better communicator. When we think of introverts, we usually think of someone who is reserved, quiet and aloof in thought.
These are the exact traits that can make you good at communication, especially in a one-on-one setting or a small, intimate group.
If you’re an extrovert, you can learn a lot from the characteristics of an introvert. Look at what introverts are great at and wed those benefits to your communication skills.
Here are four things you can try right now to be a better communicator like an Introvert:
 	
Communicate like an Introvert by being reserved.
This translates to great listening skills. I’m a communication consultant in Dallas. When I find an extrovert as a client, it’s usually a match made in heaven. I’m a great listener and they are great talkers. Listening is one of the greatest skills of a great communicator. Practice intense, active listening skills.
 	
Communicate like an Introvert by being observant. 
Pick up on things people talk about but don’t clarify. Zero in on those small details. Ask about them. Take the conversation to a deeper level. Find where you can ask clarifying questions to get a deeper understanding of the topic being discussed.
 	
Communicate like an Introvert by sharing your thoughts at the right time. 
If you’re an introvert like me, then you’re in your head… a lot. When speaking with an extrovert, I don’t say everything I’m thinking. If I did, I would need to compete for attention with an extrovert, and I just don’t think that’s a valuable use of my time. But when I do speak, it usually is different than what an extrovert is thinking. You can only say what’s on your mind when they are ready to listen.
 	
Communicate like an Introvert by being patient. 
It can take a long time to find the right opportunity when you will truly be listened to, especially if you’re with an extrovert. Listening and clarifying is half the battle. The other half is waiting to say what needs to be said at the right time.
About Clear Points Messaging LLC
Clear Points Messaging LLC serves small business in the Dallas, Texas area. Our goal is to upgrade the marketing you are already doing and using. We do this by making clear messages about your business so your audience will immediately understand what you offer them. We like to say we do marketing strategy and brand messaging. Our best work happens when we can help you discover what you customers’ true pain points are and clearly express how you solve them. Once we have a clear message to share, we help you implement it in the marketing you’re already doing.
Clear Points Messaging LLC
Phone: 
(972) 665-6554
Email: 
contactus@clearpointsmessaging.com
Website: 
clearpointsmessaging.com
Address: 2425 N. Central Expressway, Suite 700,
Richardson, Texas 75080[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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## Page: 4 REASONS WHY BRAND MESSAGE IS CRITICAL TO YOUR BUSINESS

4 Reasons Why a Brand Message is Critical to Your Business
            
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What's the Big Deal About a Brand Message?
A brand message can influence everything from the person answering the phone to your Google Ads. A brand message – which is similar to a mission statement – will also direct you when you don't know what to do, it will keep everyone on the same page, and it will help you know clearly what you're trying to accomplish and what your customers want.[/vc_column_text][gem_divider margin_top="30" color="#d2d2d2" margin_bottom="20"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width="stretch_row"][vc_column][gem_divider margin_top="10"][vc_column_text]
1. Clarity of Your Brand Message
Often when we communicate, we forget one of the fundamental elements of good communication, a clear 
call to action
. We can usually get a call to action fairly quickly if we ask the right questions.
 	
Your Topic: What am I trying to communicate about?
 	
Your Audience: Who is my audience?
 	
Your Call to Action: What do I want my audience to do?
 	
Your Unique Value: Why should my audience do it?
Once these are answered, you literally have a mission. What you want your audience to do becomes your mission. With this clarity, you’re focused. With jumbled thoughts however, you’re not. Take any marketing plan as an example. If you don’t have clarity you’re all over the map. With clarity you will know exactly what to do. You may not be able to influence others to achieve your mission, and you might need to go back to the drawing board, but you will be extremely focused.
With Clear Points Messaging LLC, we get your audience's input on your mission and your communications or marketing plans become stronger. You will be a lot closer to achieving your mission.[/vc_column_text][gem_divider margin_top="30" color="#d2d2d2" margin_bottom="20"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width="stretch_row"][vc_column][gem_divider margin_top="10"][vc_column_text]
2. Processing Fluency
Understating processing fluency is critical if you want to have clear, concise messages that resonate with your audience. Unclear communication can be detrimental if you want someone to listen.
What is processing fluency?
Processing fluency means the amount of effort or ease it takes for someone to understand your statement or information. If someone has trouble understanding what you’re talking about, then their mind is going to have to do work to process and understand the information. The more work your listener must do, the less they will trust it.
When communicating a new idea to a boss or customer, we don’t want them working to understand. We want people to understand instantly.
When people can’t understand a topic or statement, they start to think your product or topic or whatever you are talking about is not valid. When something is invalid, it’s considered erroneous. People consider your topic unsound. They don’t see the benefit your topic can offer.
But most importantly when your topic, product or subject is considered unsound, people stay away from it.
They are not going to listen to you, they’re not going to buy from you and they’re not going to trust you.[/vc_column_text][gem_divider margin_top="40" color="#d2d2d2" margin_bottom="20"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][gem_divider margin_top="10"][vc_column_text]
3. Message Discipline
Does your website say the same thing as the person who answers the phone at your business? Is your sales lead consistent with what your digital marketing department is putting on Facebook or your blog?
Do all your employees, emails, brochures, articles and social media posts at least point to the same brand message? Or does your prospective customer get different messages on your offerings from different people at your business?
Defining and clarifying your brand messages gives you the ability to make sure the message is uniform across all your channels that connect with your customer.[/vc_column_text][gem_divider margin_top="30" color="#d2d2d2" margin_bottom="20"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][gem_divider margin_top="10"][vc_column_text]
4. Self-Identifying Customers
When we define your message and the main mission you want to accomplish with your communications, we also research your customer. We want you to know them so well that when you say your message, the prospect will say something like, "Yes that's exactly the problem I am trying to solve!"
Often, we as business owners or marketers do not take the extra step to talk to old customers, new prospects and do the research to understand what they want and need. Once we have a good idea what your target customer thinks about and needs, you'll be able to have a good understanding of how your brand message links up to your customers' pain points.[/vc_column_text][gem_divider margin_top="30" color="#d2d2d2" margin_bottom="20"][vc_column_text]
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About Clear Points Messaging LLC
Clear Points Messaging LLC serves small business in the Dallas, Texas area. Our goal is to upgrade the marketing you are already doing and using. We do this by making clear messages about your business so your audience will immediately understand what you offer them. We like to say we do marketing strategy and brand messaging. Our best work happens when we can help you discover what you customers’ true pain points are and clearly express how you solve them. Once we have a clear message to share, we help you implement it in the marketing you’re already doing.
Clear Points Messaging LLC
Phone: 
(972) 665-6554
Email: 
contactus@clearpointsmessaging.com
Address: 2425 N. Central Expressway, Suite 700,
Richardson, Texas 75080[/vc_column_text][gem_divider margin_top="10"][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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## Page: 5 BENEFITS OF PRACTICING MINDFULNESS IN THE WORKPLACE

5 Benefits of Practicing Mindfulness in the Workplace
            
If you think of mindfulness as an esoteric philosophy with no relevance in the real world, you might want to rethink your approach.
Mindfulness is about much more than striking yoga poses and nurturing inner children.
Even many people who would not be caught dead in a spa or yoga retreat are using mindfulness and meditation to improve their work performance, thinking outside the box and bringing a host of benefits to their employers.
Mindfulness has become such an important part of the modern workplace that many startups and entrepreneurs are actively seeking men and women who practice it. Some are going a step further and bringing in meditation experts, mindfulness coaches, and other pros to enhance the productivity of the workplace and build a better team.
At first glance, mindfulness may not seem all that relevant to the business world, but upon closer examination, the connection becomes much clearer. Mindfulness may be about looking inward, but the strengths practitioners find there can be powerful tools for career success.
The employee who uses mindfulness and meditation to uncover their hidden strengths can use those newly uncovered assets to be more productive on the job. The employee whose meditation helps them deal with unresolved fears will emerge from that meditative state newly confident and focused.
5 Benefits of Practicing Mindfulness in the Workplace
A Better Work/Life Balance
Work/life balance is about more than time off for the kids' soccer games. Achieving a proper work/life balance can have enormous benefits for employees and employers alike.
On the employee side of the ledger, fostering a better work/life balance can lead to greater productivity on the job, even if the number of hours worked remains the same or goes down. Workers who are granted some level of freedom also tend to be more loyal to their employers, reducing costly turnover and making it easier for firms to compete.
Mindfulness can make the work/life balancing act easier by identifying the real needs of each employee. By helping those employees get in touch with their inner lives, mindfulness benefits both workers and companies.
Higher Emotional Intelligence
Businesses and entrepreneurs have long recognized the importance of emotional intelligence in the workplace. In many ways, emotional intelligence is far more important and much more relevant to the job at hand than raw brainpower.
Mindfulness training has been shown to improve emotional intelligence and bring employees to a new sense of calmness and acceptance. Those benefits can make the modern workplace more efficient, more productive and much more humane.
Managers with high levels of emotional intelligence are better at managing multiple employees and dealing with a wide variety of personality types. Anyone who has ever worked as a manager or supervisor knows just how frustrating the job can be. Anything that boosts emotional intelligence, including mindfulness and meditation, can be a big help.
Building a Better Team
By fostering emotional intelligence and building a better work/life balance, mindfulness training can also help employers create a better team. Teamwork and cooperation are critical in the modern workplace, and the companies that create the best teams tend to be the most successful.
Team building exercises are a good start, but once that week-long retreat is over, the employees who participated may quickly revert to their old ways. Combining mindfulness training, meditation practice, and other techniques can increase the effectiveness of those team-building exercises and allow them to have a lasting impact.
Improved Focus
Mindfulness has been shown to have a positive impact on employee focus, and that is good for business. The ability to focus is quickly becoming a lost art, as people are pulled in all directions by smartphones, endless meetings, and other distractions. Mindfulness can give those modern workers a new way to cut through the clutter, focusing on the task at hand, enhancing productivity, and getting more done.
This improved focus can also be used to build a better team and create a better environment for project management. Taking on a large project can be overwhelming for all involved, but mindfulness allows individual team members to focus intently on one task at a time. This step-by-step approach can make project management more successful and allow businesses to compete more effectively.
Enhanced Creativity
Business success in the modern world is about much more than the bottom line. While making money and turning a profit is still critically important, the most successful businesses are the ones that are able to connect with their customers. Think about companies like Apple, whose products have struck a nerve and changed the way we communicate.
What those successful companies have in common is their ongoing creativity and mindfulness helps foster that creative environment. By helping workers think outside the box and find creative solutions, mindfulness training gives businesses a real competitive advantage, both now and in the future.
Smart companies are already using mindfulness training and meditation to move their businesses ahead. Entrepreneurs and small business owners are bringing in meditation teachers and hiring mindfulness coaches, while their larger counterparts are sending their management teams to mindfulness retreats.
Those business professionals may be on to something, and there are many advantages to bringing this new way of thinking to the modern workplace. Mindfulness may be good for the soul, but it can be just as good for the bottom line.

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## Page: 7 STEPS TO BUILD KEY MESSAGES

7 Steps to Build Key Messages for your Brand or Business
            
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When you make a set of key messages on a specific topic, they should guide everything you communicate.
When trying to persuade someone, or simply communicate your opinion, you only need one point to get across to your audience.
 
Here are the steps listed out and each one is explained below:
Section I: The basics
 	
Who is your audience?
 	
What is your topic?
 	
What do you want your audience to do?
Section II: The Brainstorms
 	
Brainstorm on your topic.
 	
Brainstorm on your audience recommendation.
Section III: Selecting Your Message
 	
Select the most important point
 	
Select your secondary points.
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Section I: 
The Basics
The first thing you need to do is answer the basic questions needed to write a good, sound message. These questions are often overlooked or forgotten when we begin writing or thinking about presentations or messages.
However, they are critical if we want to start brainstorming so we can find the right kind of clarity. Be brief in your answers. Take your time.
When we consult, the answers to the below questions go through several rounds of edits. Even though they look easy to answer, they can be challenging. Clarity is elusive, and it’s not until we get something on paper in a structured and disciplined way that we can start seeing results.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Identify your audience
We create key messages and marketing language to change people’s minds, to influence them and to get them to take action.
In a business sense, if you’re not influencing or changing behavior, then you are communication is ineffective. If you are not sure who your audience is, here are some key questions to ask.
-Who is your audience?
-Who is receiving this message?
-Who needs to hear it?
-Who do you want to influence?[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Step Two: Clarify
 your topic
What is the topic of your speech or marketing message?
Don’t be fooled. This is a difficult question to answer. It shapes your entire message. When I help customers with their messages, this is the single question that takes the most amount of time. Sometimes you need a consultant just to answer this question.
This is true especially when you are offering an abstract service to the market or have a complex idea. Your topic is critical to get an accurate message.
Don’t use jargon. The best way to simplify any communication is to ask, “What do I mean?”[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Step Three: What do you recommend to
 your audience?
What do you want your audience to do? Or what do you recommend to your audience?
 
Once you have written down your audience and topic and are satisfied with your clarity, this step often becomes apparent. Don’t be afraid to state the most obvious call to action.
Here are some obvious ones:
-I want customers to buy my product.
-I want customers to subscribe to my email list.
-I want customers to call for a consultation.
-I want a prospect to say yes to a meeting.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Section II: 
Brainstorms
We’re going to take the answers from the topic question and audience action question and brainstorm about them.
You need a minimum of four points for each brainstorm to move on. But the more points… the better. It’s okay to state the most obvious thing in the world. And it’s okay to be redundant.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Step Four: Brainstorming on your topic
Brainstorm on your topic. Make very brief statements on why your topic is unique and different. Literally look at what you wrote for your topic… and think of points on why it’s different.
-How is your topic different from similar topics?
-What makes it unusual?
-What do you like about it most?
-Why is it important to you?
-What is something that you think is so obvious it doesn’t need to be communicated?[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Step Five: Brainstorming on your audience recommendation
The 
second 
brainstorm asks how the audience will have the advantage because of your recommendation. This is usually when great messages are created.
You need four points to move.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Section III: 
Selecting your points
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Step Six: Selecting the Main Message
First, you’re going to select the very best point. I tell customers, “If you could say only one thing to your audience, and one thing only, what would it be? What’s the most important thing out of this list you need to tell your audience?” Through a process of elimination, we narrow the points down into about four categories.
We pick the one we like best.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Step Seven: Selecting three points that support your main message
And then we pick three supporting statements from our list of points that prove the main message. So now… you should have a main message and three supporting points.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Conclusion
After going through this process you know:
 	
Your audience
 	
What you’re talking to them about
 	
What you want your audience to do
 	
A clear, organized message that expresses the most significant points about your topic
 	
The foundation for a strong key message.
Also… test and edit your message. Say it in everyday language. Make sure people are actually interested in what you say… instead of leaving them confused.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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## Page: ABOUT

About Clear Points
            
Most teams don’t struggle because they lack ideas.
They struggle because their ideas aren’t communicated clearly.
At Clear Points, we help teams turn scattered thoughts, competing priorities, and unclear communication into actionable clarity. When people understand what you’re saying — and why it matters — work moves forward faster, decisions come easier, and influence becomes natural instead of uphill.
Our work isn’t about polishing slides or “crafting the perfect message.”
It’s about helping teams think clearly so they can communicate clearly.
We partner with business units, technical teams, and leaders who want:
A common language for decision-making
Messages that are easy for others to understand and act on
Less rework, fewer surprises, and more alignment
A practical way to influence without pressure or persuasion
A roadmap that helps the whole team communicate with confidence
Through three core services — 
Communication & Influence Fundamentals Workshops
, 
Communication Roadmaps for Teams
, and 
Communication Diagnostics
 — we give teams the structure, clarity, and confidence they need to communicate effectively.
Clear communication isn’t just a skill. It’s a force multiplier.
And when your team communicates clearly, everything else follows.

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## Page: BABC

BABC
            [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Become a Better Communicator Quiz
Your result should be in your email inbox.
If not, please check your spam folder.
#BABC
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## Page: BENEFITS OF HIRING AN EXECUTIVE COACH IN DALLAS

Benefits of an Executive Coach  Dallas
            
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More than 70%
 of people who receive coaching said they benefited from enhanced work performance. The same study revealed that 86% of companies that invested in coaching felt they recouped the costs. Many of them also earned more because of their coaching investment.
From tweaking the way you think to increase your performance, there are many benefits of executive coaching.
(Learn what we teach and what you will learn in our 
communication skills coaching program
.)
What Are the Benefits of an Executive Coach?
Anyone great at what they do has likely received coaching at one time or another. From athletes to lawyers to acrobats, working with a coach is an excellent way to perfect your skills.
An executive coach is a professional who works with executives and other professionals to help them achieve their objectives. They also help professionals tap into their potential, gain confidence, tackle vulnerabilities, clarify goals, and gain awareness!
Let's break down the essential benefits you'll receive when you hire a leadership coach.
They'll Help You Identify Blind Spots
Have you ever had a tick that you didn't notice until someone pointed out to you? Is there a phrase you use all the time that your coworkers recognize you for?
So many personality traits remain unnoticed to those who wear them until someone else points them out.
Executive coaches are kind of like mentors. They help you identify blind spots or vulnerabilities so that you can become the best professional version of yourself. They also bring critical thinking to the table.
They have skills and tools specifically designed to tackle your blind spots and get to where you want to go more quickly.
A leadership coach in Dallas will begin to see trends and patterns in your behaviors, beliefs, and thoughts, the more time you're together. From there, they can pinpoint anything that's holding you back or jeopardizing your role.
We can't always analyze our own big pictures without emotion. A critical-thinking executive coach will help you see things clearly and determine how to alleviate any weaknesses.
They'll Help You Improve Leadership Skills
Only 10% of people
 in this world are natural-born leaders.
The good news is, great leadership can be learned or improved. Good leaders entice employees to want to follow them. When employees respect and appreciate their leaders, they'll be more productive and effective in their specific roles.
It's important to learn your employees' strengths and weaknesses, and help them improve in their professional roles. Your executive coach will help you 
improve communication
 between you and your team and to build a strong rapport.
They'll help you align your team's thinking with your own so that, together, you can succeed and improve beyond your own expectations. There's nothing wrong with lacking in leadership skills. When you opt to hire a leadership coach in Dallas, they'll help improve your leadership skills, making you and your team more successful and productive.
A Leadership Communication Coach Increases Profitability
Sometimes leaders lose sight of their goals or don't focus on their core skills. A great leader knows what strengths they have and how to use them.
When they implement those skills, their teams, goals, and companies are inevitably driven to success.
An executive coach helps you think critically about your strengths, your business strategy, and your communication. Through these skills, you'll increase productivity and profitability within your company.
Coaches Help You Change the Way You Think
Maybe you're obsessed with meeting a certain sales goal, but you haven't thought about the little steps that'll help you get there. Your leadership coach in Dallas will change the way you think so that you can effectively pursue new paths and journeys to success without getting distracted.
Any beliefs or thinking processes that deter you from reaching your goals will become apparent. When your desires line up with your thinking and your actions, meeting goals becomes much easier.
By changing the way you think and look at things, you'll be more inspiring to your team, a better leader, and better identify promising opportunities.
You and your coach will pinpoint moments in your past when things interfered with your success. You'll learn from past mistakes and learn critical-thinking skills that help you identify any hindrances in the future.
They'll Advance Your Skills
You may be comfortable in your current position, but what happens when you want to move up or move on?
The higher up you go, the more the competition grows. One interview can make or break a job offer. Hiring a leadership coach not only improves your professional status at your current gig but also prepares you for any potential offers down the road.
You'll learn how to frame and analyze your experiences to align with any job description. You'll know exactly what to say and when to say it so that you stand out from the rest of the qualified crowd. Plus, you'll exhibit confidence and communication skills that'll reflect your leadership skills to your interviewer.
Don't Wait to Hire an Executive Coach in Dallas
Are you in an executive position or trying to be? Do you know you have what it takes to be an excellent leader but would like tools and skills to become a better communicator and increase profitability?
An executive coach in Dallas can help you identify any weak spots and look objectively at your characteristics and goals. They'll use your past to learn from mistakes. Plus, they'll help you work with your team to ensure everyone's goals are aligned and that employees feel heard.
Are you ready to get started and find out how we can help you become more effective and profitable? 
Contact us
 today with your questions and concerns. We are here to help![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text]
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## Page: BLOG

Blog
            
Recent Blog Posts
    
        
Frame Finding #028: The "None-Answer Answer" Moral Pivot
        
Published: 2025-11-16
        
Spotted in: Meet the Press (NBC)
Topic: Food assistance, health care tax credits, and political leverage
Frame Used: The “None-Answer Answer” (Moral Refr...
        
Read Article →

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## Page: BOOST YOUR COMMUNICATIONS WITH AUDIENCE FRAMING

Framing Communication: The Hidden Skill Behind Persuasive Messages
            
How you express the messages you tell your audience is a critical component of framing communication. This expression in your communication is audience framing.
Artists are best known for framing. Photographers and visual artists use framing to help viewers focus on the subject in their photos. Framing highlights what the artist wants the viewer to see in their portrait.
Framing in communication is no different. The way you craft your message or express an idea creates a frame, highlighting the meaning you want your listener to hear from your message.
What is Communication Framing?
Framing your communication means choosing a specific “frame” or angle to deliver your message so that you highlight the meaning you want your audience to focus on.
In practice, a frame is like a filter – it emphasizes certain aspects of the message and downplays others.
For example, will you use a metaphor, tell a story, or present statistics? Each approach frames the message differently.
Management consultant Gail Fairhurst says that framing gives a structured way to think about concepts. It also provides context to main ideas to your target audience.
In Fairhurst’s book, 
The Power of Framing
, she states that leaders often cannot control events. “But they can control the context under which events are seen if they recognize a framing opportunity.”
If your message has the right frame, it can create more meaning and context. Your audience will also be more likely to interpret what you are saying the way you want them to interpret it.
Why Framing Matters
Every message is structured—whether you mean to or not. It shapes what your audience sees, feels, and does.
Framing isn’t fluff. It’s influence.
Two messages can say the same factual thing, both technically true—and still trigger completely different reactions. One builds trust. The other sparks fear. One leads to action. The other to avoidance.
But framing doesn’t just happen in what we say. It’s happening to us—constantly.
Headlines, ads, press releases, and content are framed to steer your reaction.
Framing is the discipline of choosing what to highlight so your message lands with clarity and impact.
In leadership, strategy, marketing—or even casual conversation—framing is the difference between being understood or dismissed.
If you don’t control the frame, you're missing an opportunity to shape perception—and drive action.
Where did Communication Framing originate? 
Framing as a communication concept has its roots in media and sociology. In mass communication theory, “framing” refers to how information is packaged by the media to influence interpretation by the public. 
"According to the theory, the media highlights certain events and then places them within a particular context to encourage or discourage certain interpretations. In this way, the media exercises a selective influence over how people view reality. Anthropologist Gregory Bateson is credited with first positing the theory in 1972.” Source: 
Communications Studies
This theory - where the media controls how you view events -- has seeped into marketing and leadership communications. 
What you choose to communicate and how you frame your ideas can govern the interpretation of your audience.
See a real example in the 
New York Times
. See how the highlighted a detail vs. other news outlets. 
Want to strengthen your communication skills?
Frame Finding
 is a monthly email that breaks down how powerful people and brands use framing to shape what we think, feel, and do.
One message each month
No fluff—just sharp, usable analysis
Bonus drops when culture shifts
Trusted by communicators, strategists, and anyone who wants to stay sharp.
[ninja_form id=9]
5 Frames You Can Use to Communicate
The way you create a message and share it frames how the listener will receive it. Here we look at five ways to frame a message.
Positive and Negative Frames
Metaphor and Analogies
Storytelling
Contrast
WIIFMs
1. Positive and Negative Frames
Any message can be framed with an optimistic spin or a cautionary tone. 
Positive and negative frames
 can be seen in almost every type of frame that exists.
Positive framing focuses on the benefits, gains, or favorable outcomes of a situation.
Negative framing highlights the risks, losses, or adverse outcomes.
Neither is about changing the facts; it’s about changing which side of the coin to shine a light on.
If you create the same message but one with positive and the other with a negative framing, both statements will be true, but they set different expectations.
If you’re communicating a new initiative at work:
Positive frame:
 “This change will create new opportunities for our team.”
Negative frame:
 “Not embracing this change could put us behind our competitors.”
In fact, in public safety campaigns, negative or fear-based frames, like “If you text while driving, you increase your risk of a crash,” have been used to discourage dangerous behavior.
Whereas positive frames, “Stay safe by focusing on the road – arrive alive,” appeal to the desire for a good outcome.
Positive framing often works best when:
The audience is already open or neutral to the idea.
You're promoting preventive behaviors, benefits, or rewards.
The goal is to build trust, hope, or optimism.
Example: “Eat more vegetables to boost your energy.”
Negative framing
 tends to be more effective when:
The audience is apathetic, resistant, or unaware of a risk.
The topic involves danger, loss, or urgency.
You're trying to interrupt inaction or complacency.
Example: “Not exercising increases your risk of heart disease.”
2. Framing with Metaphors and Analogies
Metaphors and analogies
 are more than just creative language—they’re framing tools. When used well, they instantly shape how your audience sees a situation.
A 
metaphor
 compares your message to something familiar, implying similarity in a meaningful way.
“This project is a marathon, not a sprint.”
That one sentence shifts the frame. The audience now understands the project isn’t about speed—it’s about endurance, pacing, and commitment. No need to explain further. The metaphor does the heavy lifting.
Why Metaphors Work
Metaphors transfer understanding from one domain to another. They highlight what matters and push everything else into the background.
“We’re building the foundation before we add more floors.”
→ Frames your plan as solid, long-term, strategic.
“Time is money.”
→ Frames time as a valuable, limited resource.
“This is a ticking clock.”
→ Frames a situation as urgent and fleeting.
The Power of a Metaphor to Influence Thinking
Here’s how deep it goes:
Frame crime as 
a beast
 and people want to fight it.
Frame crime as 
a virus
 and people want to treat it.
Same stats. Different metaphor. Entirely different policy preferences.
The 
Guardian
 writes:
In the study, participants were presented with brief passages about crime in a hypothetical city named Addison.
For half of the participants, a few words were altered so that the passage said that crime was a “beast preying” on the city of Addison. For the other half, crime was described as a “virus infecting” the city.
“Those exposed to the “beast” metaphor were more likely to believe that crime should be dealt with by using punitive measures, whereas those exposed to the “virus” metaphor were more likely to support reformative measures.
Communicating with metaphor can be powerful and influence an audience to think a fact is more severe.
How to Choose the Right Metaphor
Every metaphor carries emotional weight. Use that weight intentionally.
Want to frame something as 
solvable
? Use a puzzle, not a battle.
Want to show it’s 
threatening
? Use a wildfire, not a bump in the road.
Want to encourage 
patience
? Use a garden, not a race.
Your metaphor sets the emotional tone before your audience even processes the logic.
Bottom Line
Metaphors frame your message with speed, clarity, and force.
So choose one that matches the meaning and mood you want to land.
3. Framing Through Storytelling
Our brains are hardwired to learn from stories. We have been learning and passing information to one another through stories since our species began communicating. Now 
storytelling works well in business
.
According to 
Leo Widrich’s Lifehacker article:
A story, if broken down into the simplest form, is a connection of cause and effect. And that is exactly how we think.
We think in narratives all day long, no matter if it is about buying groceries, whether we think about work or our spouse at home.
Stories are also easy to remember and help people learn and connect with the material. According to the 
Harvard Business Journal
, “Psychologist Jerome Bruner’s research suggests that facts are 20 times more likely to be remembered if they’re part of a story.”
4. Framing Through Contrast
Contrasting
 principles can set up an influential frame. It's based on one of Robert Cialdini’s universal principles of persuasion.
From Selling and Persuasion Techniques, 
Using Contrast to Sell:
The contrast principle can be used when you are dealing with price objections to make the cost of your offer look smaller. The idea is to compare your price to something larger so it doesn’t look so expensive.
You may compare your price to the extra profit the client will make or to your competitors or to the much larger costs inherent in the client’s business.
Contrast can be used for almost any topic. It does not just work with price.
For example, a local school in Arlington, Texas, used this principle. In the daycare industry, turnover is extremely high.
Usually, teachers do not stay at the same school for long. However, this school’s average staff had been there for more than 15 years. The school is using this contrasting point in their marketing message and gaining traction in the market.
5. Framing Through WiiFMs
WIIFM stands for What’s in it for me?
Audience members are selfish. They want to know how the thing you are communicating about will affect their lives.
Will it make their life better? Can they implement it? Your entire message needs to should center on how the audience will benefit.
No one cares about the Tarzan chest-beating, which communicators do from time to time. They are trying to show how great their company is, but often it misses the mark.
Here are two frames, but they are talking about the same thing. Each one is talking about why you should do business with this fictitious company.
We have received award after award for our customer service. We have created some of the most innovative software for companies. Our digital first philosophy drives everything we do. Our knowledge skill and experience cuts waste and we have given companies the ability to move faster.
So you might be interested in working with that company. They are qualified and know what they are doing.
But what if the company said it like this?
When you work with us, you get to experience one of the best customer service teams in the country. We don’t rest until you are satisfied. You will be receiving the best software you need to bring your company and employees into the digital age so you can be more productive ad spend more time on what matters.
When we frame our communication in this way, the listener hears the value you have to offer.
Communicators often point to the greatness of their company. Instead, communicators should show how their company gives their customers’ value.
 
Framing Techniques You Can Use
Below are the core frames available in the Clear Points app, plus additional framing strategies that help sharpen your message and shape perception.
Frame Type
How It Works
Positive Frame
Emphasizes what’s good, possible, or beneficial. Focuses on gain, opportunity, or upside.
Negative Frame
Highlights a risk, problem, or consequence. Creates urgency or emphasizes what could go wrong.
Balanced Frame
Acknowledges both the good and the bad. Builds trust by showing both sides or trade-offs.
Attribute Frame
Focuses on a specific feature, detail, or quality of the subject. Useful for clarity or comparison.
Benefit Frame
Centers the message around what the audience gets. Often overlaps with WIIFM/value framing.
Settlement Frame
Frames the message as a resolution or middle ground. Shows compromise, progress, or closure.
Assembly Frame
Builds a message by stacking elements in a sequence (e.g., "first, next, then"). Useful for structure or logic.
Contrast Frame
Highlights differences (before/after, this vs. that) to make your point stand out.
Metaphor Frame
Compares your idea to something familiar to simplify or reframe meaning.
Story/Narrative Frame
Uses a short story or example to make the message relatable and memorable.
Value Frame
Ties your message to what your audience cares about (e.g., safety, status, freedom).
Spin Frame
Casts the message in a deliberately positive or negative tone (can be risky or persuasive depending on use).
Visual/Auditory Frame
Uses imagery, tone, or delivery style to shape how the message is felt—not just heard.
Strategic Frame
Frames the message to serve a long-term purpose—such as positioning, persuasion, or alignment with values.
Start with Clarity. Then Frame It.
A frame influences how your audience sees your business, your message, or your product. It’s a powerful tool—but it’s not magic.
Framing only works if the message underneath is clear.
Most people rush to shape perception before they’ve done the harder work: figuring out what they’re really trying to say and why it matters.
If your message is muddy, no frame will save it.
So before you craft the frame, find the point. Nail the purpose. Strip the noise.
Because a strong frame can’t fix a weak message.
Start with clarity. Then 
frame with intent
.
 
 
Why is Communication So Difficult?
 
The bottom line is that effective communication is difficult. It just is, even for naturally good communicators. If you look at the challenges modern humans face compared to our hominid ancestors, it’s just complicated. Plain and simple. Here’s why: The subjects modern humans talk about are extremely complicated and unnatural. We respond to things that ... 
Read more Why is Communication So Difficult?

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## Page: BRAKE METAPHOR

Frame Finding #004: The “Brake Failure” Metaphor
            
Spotted in:
 NBC News headline + interview
Topic:
 Air traffic control system failures
Frame Used:
 Metaphor Frame + Implied Danger
“It’s like driving your car knowing the brakes will go out at any time.”
— Veteran air traffic controller, NBC News
This quote appeared in a 
May 2025 NBC News report
 on air traffic control system failures.
What This Frame Does
This isn’t a technical explanation—it’s a visceral metaphor that reframes system instability as personal, physical danger.
Rather than say, “the system is unreliable,” the speaker gives you a metaphor you feel:
You’re in motion
You’re not in control
You’re waiting for failure
It taps into loss of agency, inevitable harm, and constant anxiety—all in one sentence.
Why It Works
No aviation expertise required
Emotion first, logic second
Implies urgency without shouting
This metaphor frames the issue as urgent and unacceptable, without ever saying those words directly.
Takeaway for Communicators
If you want your audience to feel urgency, don’t describe the risk—embody it in a metaphor they already fear. Compare it to something they’d never tolerate in real life.
Not:
 “This system is unstable.”
 
Instead:
 “It’s like driving a car with failing brakes.”

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## Page: BUSINESS PRESENTATION COACHING

Business Presentation Coaching
            
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One to One Presentation Skills & Business Presentation Coaching
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Do you need a one to one presentation skills coach? Do you have a business​ presentation due soon? You don’t have time, or you don’t have a clue what points you need to get across to your audience to best influence them? 
A Clear Points business presentation coach can help you. 
We will quickly brainstorm together and get you clear points and a brief outline to get you started on a presentation, an important email or speech.
The goal of the Quick Message session is to transform your jumbled thoughts into useful, influential and concise points.
By the end of session you'll have key messages you need to prepare and deliver your speech, communication plan or pitch.
Customers use the Quick Message Plan when they are in a bind and need points to share quickly, or to prepare for an upcoming speech, announcement or presentation.
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4 Simple Steps to Business Presentation Coaching
We will build the first draft of your presentation in our first sessions!
(Guaranteed)
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[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]1. We brainstorm together on why your topic and recommendation to your audience is unique and beneficial. We simply pull your expertise out and clarify in a way that makes sense to the common person.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]2. We build your message. Once we have created a rough outline of your message, we go through an editing process and make sure it’s in your words and you agree to all the points.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]3. We create a first draft of your presentation during our first session![/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]4. Determine next steps, whether it is more research or if design is needed for the presentation.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/6"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width="stretch_row" css=".vc_custom_1597949033740{background-color: #face5f !important;background-position: 0 0 !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;}"][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text]
Your one to one presentation skills coach
Jimmy Marlin hangs out where messaging, influence and strategic communications meet in order to create change. He likes to spend that time with managers and technical experts who need help explaining their insights, research or suggestion to less data fluent audiences.
He approaches influencing others and sharing ideas in a specific way. He doesn't believe in being overly political, groveling in front of other people or brown-nosing to get ideas accepted by others.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Learn More" color="white" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fclearpointsmessaging.com%2Fabout%2F|title:About%20Clear%20Points|target:%20_blank|"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_video link="https://vimeo.com/368631030/ced7abb438" title="One to One Presentation Skills Coach Testimonial"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Business Presentation Coaching Case Studies
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Clear Points Reverses AT&T Manager's Performance Review
Summary: An AT&T Manager who hit all of her key metrics for the year was being targeted in a political fight. She came to me to ask if she could have a communication plan to battle the politics in the office.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_column_text]
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Data Science Team Clarity Leads to $250K Contract
Summary: A group of corporate executives at an admired communications company came to Clear Points Messaging for messaging help and marketing materials. They wanted to start their own company.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_column_text]
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Clear Points Helps Healthcare Software Developer Focus on Key Projects & Messages
Summary: A software developer had many projects that he wanted to work on. He worked in the healthcare software and wanted a consultants help to narrow his focus.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width="stretch_row" css=".vc_custom_1596980915133{background-color: #face5f !important;background-position: 0 0 !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;}"][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text]
Getting Started
Get the Communication Training You Need to Advance Your Career And Grow Your Skills
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If you need help, let's schedule an initial call to understand your deadlines and the scope of your presentation. 
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_btn title="(972) 665-6554" style="custom" custom_background="#04a4d8" custom_text="#ffffff" size="lg" align="center" link="url:tel%3A9726656554|title:Schedule%20Call|target:%20_blank|"][vc_btn title="Send Us a Message" style="custom" custom_background="#03a3d9" custom_text="#ffffff" size="lg" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fclearpointsmessaging.com%2Fcontact-us%2F||target:%20_blank|"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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## Page: CASE STUDIES

Clear Points Case Studies
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Clear Points Teaches More Than 600 Data Scientists and Engineers at Facebook
Summary: Clear Points Messaging created curriculum based on our Simple Frameworks Workshops that transformed how data scientists and engineers at Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp communicate.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_column_text]
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Data Science Team Clarity Leads to $250K Contract
Summary: A group of corporate executives at an admired communications company came to Clear Points Messaging for messaging help and marketing materials. They wanted to start their own company.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_column_text]
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Clear Points Helps Healthcare Software Developer Focus on Key Projects & Messages
Summary: A software developer had many projects that he wanted to work on. He worked in the healthcare software and wanted a consultants help to narrow his focus.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_column_text]
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Clear Points Reverses AT&T Manager's Performance Review
Summary: An AT&T Manager who hit all of her key metrics for the year was being targeted in a political fight. She came to me to ask if she could have a communication plan to battle the politics in the office.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_column_text]
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HingePoint Needs New Consistent Content Strategy
Summary: HingePoint came to Clear Points Messaging to create content that would turn into leads. HingePoint believed strongly in the Content is King marketing strategy.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_column_text]
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Timothy O'Farrell Recovery Needs Brand Message Makeover
 
Summary: Timothy O'Farrell Recovery needed a new brand message for their fundraising efforts. The came to Clear Points Messaging to clarify their message and create their unique value proposition.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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## Page: CASE STUDY ATT MANAGER

Case Study: AT&T Manager
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Case Study from an AT&T Manager
Summary:
We worked with an AT&T Manager who hit all of her key metrics for the year. However, management targeted her in a political fight. She came to me to ask if she could have a communication plan to battle the politics in the office.
The Challenge:
A group of senior leaders rated her negatively. They gave her the lowest rating possible, which often meant they could fire her later. We needed to develop a strong message and a way to deliver to change the perception and get her rating reversed.
The Solution:
We came up with a messaging plan. We coached her on how to deliver her message. We practiced her message and how she would say it, and we even prepared her for the responses that she would get from Human Resources and the leader of the business unit.
The Benefit:
Her performance review rating was reversed, which is extremely rare at corporations. She had the data to back up her claims, and she took the initiative to get the ball rolling. But if it weren't for Clear Points' message framework, she would not have been able to fight and win.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="See More Case Studies" style="custom" custom_background="#e6453d" custom_text="#ffffff" align="left" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fclearpointsmessaging.com%2Fcase-studies%2F"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/6"][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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## Page: CASE STUDY DATA SCIENCE TEAM

Case Study: Data Science Team
            
Summary:
A group of corporate executives at an admired communications company came to Clear Points Messaging for messaging help and marketing materials.
The Challenge:
The group were extremely technical. They spoke in jargon and could not pinpoint the words to explain their technical retail solution.
The Solution:
After several brainstorms with Clear Points Messaging, the team of data scientists were able to express what they wanted to do for a potential client in the retail side. After making the message as simple and clear as possible, we created talking points and a marketing flyer for the team to go over with the potential customer.
Ongoing Benefits:
The data science team landed a contract for $300k and was able to get funding to build the first prototype of their data service for retail stores.
Who Was Helped:
We helped the team and their customer understand the benefits that the new technology would provide.
 

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## Page: CASE STUDY HEALTHCARE SOFTWARE DEVELOPER

Case Study: Healthcare Software Developer
            
Summary:
A software developer had many projects that he wanted to work on. He worked in the healthcare software and wanted a consultants help to narrow his focus.
The Challenge:
The developer had trouble focusing on one project. He needed help figuring out which project would be the best to focus on and then how to communicate it clearly.
The Solution:
After a 3.5 hour brainstorm session, we came up with what product he would focus on and the key messages he would begin communicating to find more leads.
Ongoing Benefits:
The engineer has an elevator speech, a two minute speech and the foundation of a presentation with the message we created. He has been able to focus on the most important project and began to gain traction in the market.

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## Page: CASE STUDY KEY PARTNERSHIP FOR HINGEPOINT

Case Study: Key Partnership for HingePoint
            
Summary:
HingePoint came to Clear Points Messaging to create content that would turn into leads. HingePoint believed strongly in the Content is King marketing strategy.
The Challenge:
HingePoint needed better and consistent content about subjects that were fairly dry in nature: SharePoint, Microsoft Dynamics, document management systems.
The Solution:
We began covering conferences and writing SEO stories on SharePoint.
The Benefit:
We quadrupled blog traffic and increased organic traffic by 98 percent year over year. Our content helped create more than $2m in sales. We wrote about SharePoint, data and Salesforce and their new strategic partner, Procore.

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## Page: CASE STUDY TOR

Case Study: TOR
            
Challenge Summary:
Timothy O'Farrell Recovery
 needed a new brand message for their fundraising efforts. The came to Clear Points Messaging to clarify their message and create their unique value proposition.
The Solution:
We took them through our Guided Brainstorm, which at the end gave them clarity on their unique value proposition.
The Benefit:
They were able to raise more money with a highly targeted approach on their message. They were also able to explain it better in everyday conversations and direct their marketing to better fulfill their mission.

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## Page: CLEAR COMMUNICATION INFLUENCES PERSUASION TACTICS

Clear Communication Influences Persuasion Tactics
            
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Influence and persuasion tactics are the closest ethical voodoo we have to a Star Wars Jedi Knight. Remember Obe Won Konbi's ability to persuade storm troopers to do whatever he asked?
Robert Cialdini has this gift and is the modern Godfather on principles of persuasion.
Even though principles like reciprocity have been studied for hundreds of years, Cialdini was the first to show how well these principles can influence business decisions in the 1984 book, Influence.
Humans have created shortcuts to make decisions quicker. If we were to process and think about every decision we need to make in a day, then we would not get anything finished. As a result, we have created these shortcuts -- or cues that our mind identifies as indicators to make a decision.
In some cases, Cialdini is mostly concerned about what you do 
before
 you ask for support for your ideas or initiatives. At Clear Points Messaging LLC, we call it a persuasive environment.
Is the environment your audience is in primed to hear your message? Have you done the proper leg work to make sure you are seen as credible, liked and authoritative before you deliver your message?
However, we also believe that if you cannot clearly express your ideas, it doesn't matter how many persuasive shortcuts you hit. Without a clear message, it's going to be almost impossible to influence someone to do anything.
Clear messages about your recommendation are the things that seal the deal when using persuasion tactics.
Reciprocity and a Moment of Power
One great example Cialdini uses in his new book Pre-suasion is about a dean of marketing at an ivy league university.
Paraphrasing his story, Cialdini talks about how he was going to start on his new book, several years after his first book became popular. He was going to study at a well know university and write.
Cialdini worried because he needed an executive assistant. He wanted a desk by certain staff. And he needed parking. When he talked to the dean on the phone Cialdini voiced his concerns.
The dean replied, "Robert. Don't worry. I got everything ready for you. Don't worry about the parking. It's taken care of. I got it all straightened out. We got you a really great executive assistant."
Cialdini said, "What about my office space?"
"We got you right where you want to be. It's all taken care of the way you want it."
This was a great relief for Cialdini. "Thank you so much. I can't tell you how relieved I am and how much that means to me."
"Well you know Bob I'm happy to do it for you. But there's something I need you to do for me. I need you to teach a marketing class this semester."
If he accepted, this would completely changed Cialdini's plans. It even intimidated him. He never taught a marketing class and he'd need to begin learning and building the class. Even though Cialdini did not want to, he agreed.
Why? The dean had -- what Cialdini calls -- a moment of power because the dean had done something unexpected and nice for Cialdini.
The trigger that encouraged Cialdini to say yes is called reciprocity. It's a universal rule in societal behavior. Sociologist Richard Thurnwald said all the way back in 1916 that reciprocity "pervades every relation of primitive life.”
And in the 1960s, Alvin Gouldner said that reciprocity has two main rules: “People should help those who have helped them, and people should not injure those who have helped them.”
We are wired to respond yes in certain situations. It's based on our societal norms.
But what happens if we use these persuasion cues and don't have clear communication? What if we are asking someone for something more complicated than teaching a class?
Communicating in Moments of Power
When you express ideas clearly, people are more likely to support it.
Hearing this, it seems like a no brainer. However, seeing how this principle is applied in business sheds light on a large problem.
In business we often go from one project to the next without getting a level of clarity on our objectives, specifically what we want others to do, or how best to explain our findings, opinions or ideas.
The subjects we communicate about in business are much more complicated than asking someone to teach a class.
When we see one of Cialdini's moments of power, what happens when we don't clearly express our ideas?
Unclear messages actually cause distrust. It’s called Processing Fluency.
If it takes a lot of work for someone to understand your message, they immediately think it is not based on reason, it’s untrue, unreliable… and even dangerous.
According to social psychologist Roy Baumeister, we as humans “are hardwired to pay urgent attention to possible bad outcomes.”
When you communicate unclearly, your listener will automatically pay more attention to the threat of uncertainty than trying to uncover the true benefit you are offering them.
Being able to communicate in a clear, concise way where everyone can understand is critical, especially if you're communicating in a moment of power.
Otherwise you have wasted this very unusual and unique opportunity.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width="stretch_row" css=".vc_custom_1587382635023{background-color: rgba(204,204,204,0.52) !important;*background-color: rgb(204,204,204) !important;}"][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Effective Communications Workbook
Use the workbook to build a simple message that your audience will understand and trust.
Learn how to express your ideas simply and avoid common mistakes when communicating.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text]
Tested Method to Communicate
Use a framework we taught to AT&T employees and the Facebook analytics team. Creating simple communication will be easy and influencing others will become effortless.
Speak in a Way that Creates Trust
Learn a simple way to express your ideas so others will listen. You will learn a framework that will give you confidence in how you express your ideas.
Be a Leader by Learning to Communicate Like One
It will position you as an authority and help you set the direction for your team and business.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Learn More" color="warning" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fclearpointsmessaging.com%2Fbecome-a-better-communicator-worksheet%2F|||"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1587382052407{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}"]
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## Page: CLEAR POINTS LIVE RESOURCES

Clear Points Live Resources
            
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Technical Communication Training and Team Communications Training
Take your team through a communication workshop to learn the best way to influence cross functional teams.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text]Use a framework we taught to AT&T employees and the Facebook analytics team. Creating simple communication will be easy and influencing others will become effortless.
Learn a simple way to express your ideas so others will listen. You will learn a framework that will give you confidence in how you express your ideas.
It will position you as an authority and help you set the direction for your team and business.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Learn More" color="warning" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fclearpointsmessaging.com%2Fmessaging-facilitated-workshop%2F|||"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1587437400147{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}"]
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width="stretch_row"][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Simple Frameworks Virtual Training
Learn the same training some of the top data scientists in the country learned.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text]—Create an Influence Plan for a real project.
—Learn a messaging framework that will help you speak and influence your audience.
—Apply influential principles and tactics to your plan.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Learn More" color="warning" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fclearpointsmessaging.com%2Fcommunication-skills-training-virtual-workshops%2F||target:%20_blank|"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1587437425094{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}"]
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## Page: CLEAR POINTS ONLINE RESOURCES

Clear Points Online Resources
            
[vc_row full_width="stretch_row" css=".vc_custom_1587400433121{margin-top: -80px !important;padding-top: 100px !important;padding-bottom: 100px !important;background-image: url(https://storage.googleapis.com/stateless-clearpointsmessaging/2019/10/background.png?id=27159) !important;}"][vc_column][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1587400188933{padding-top: 20px !important;}"]
Online Resources
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width="stretch_row" css=".vc_custom_1587382635023{background-color: rgba(204,204,204,0.52) !important;*background-color: rgb(204,204,204) !important;}"][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Effective Communications Workbook
Use the workbook to build a simple message that your audience will understand and trust.
Learn how to express your ideas simply and avoid common mistakes when communicating.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text]
Tested Method to Communicate
Use a framework we taught to AT&T employees and the Facebook analytics team. Creating simple communication will be easy and influencing others will become effortless.
Speak in a Way that Creates Trust
Learn a simple way to express your ideas so others will listen. You will learn a framework that will give you confidence in how you express your ideas.
Be a Leader by Learning to Communicate Like One
It will position you as an authority and help you set the direction for your team and business.
$27
[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Learn More" color="warning" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fclearpointsmessaging.com%2Fbecome-a-better-communicator-worksheet%2F|||"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1587382052407{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}"]
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width="stretch_row"][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Simple Frameworks Workbook
Use this workbook to build a simple Influence Plan.
It works best when working with internal teams at work.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text]
Simple Plan to Influence
We use a simple communication framework that builds a clear message, teaches participants how to best deliver the message and gives you scientifically-proven tactics to persuade your audience.
Build Trust & Confidence
If people do not understand what you’re saying, then they are not going to take action. They will also naturally be inclined to distrust you. We teach you how to explain your projects in a simple way and how to use influence skills to build trust.
$97
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## Page: COACHING

coaching
            
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Communication Skills Training | Dallas, Texas
People say that they can communicate well.
They don’t need to prepare.
They will just wing it and say what’s on their mind.
Then they have that meeting scheduled with their supervisor.
You know the one. It’s that colossal meeting that could change their life.
If you are like me, before the meeting, you’re a mess. Anxiety has you in its crosshairs. The obsessive thoughts consistently run through your mind.
“How do I say this? How do I frame it? What do I do?”
You just want them to understand what you understand and to really hear you.
Damn.
If you would have just prepared for this moment. Developed those communication skills so people would look at you and your idea with trust.
So they would see you exuding confidence like a damn lion prowling the savanna.
Imagine if they saw you on the same level that they SHOULD see you on… prowling the business meeting like a boss.
They'll see you as someone worth following. And your idea, it’s obvious.
Why?
Because you already put the work in before the meeting. You already know how they are going to respond before you even get there.
And you’re ready, just like that lion on the savanna.
Learn the leadership communication skills — the soft skills that make you one badass  SOB — that will take your career to the next level.
That if anyone gets in your way, you intuitively know how to handle them and the situation.
 	
Learn to influence.
 	
Learn to communicate clearly.
 	
Learn emotional poise and intelligence in the high stakes environment of business.
 	
And learn to listen and have an open dialogue.
 	
If you master these skills, you will have more influence, more say in your company, and the ability to get more done.
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Click the red button below to learn more.
[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Learn More" style="custom" custom_background="#e6453d" custom_text="#ffffff" size="lg" align="left" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fcoaching.clearpointsmessaging.com%2F"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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## Page: COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGN 2

Communication Campaign 2
            
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Your Training is in Progress. 
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Learn the 3 Key Roadblocks to Communication and Influence
And how a Simple Framework can make you a master communicator.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/6"][/vc_column][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_video link="https://vimeo.com/401003443" align="center"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/6"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text]
#1:
 You'll learn the three "f's" that block you from sound communication.
#2:
 You'll learn why people have a hard time trusting communication that is not clear.
#3:
 You'll learn how you can positively persuade others while remaining authentic.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/3"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_column_text]
Get Communication Skills Training
We trained the top data scientists and engineers in the United States to be better at communication. We can train you, too. Are you interested in learning more about our communication coaching program?
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## Page: COMMUNICATION IN THE WORKPLACE HOW STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION CREATES FOUNDATION OF INFLUENCE

How Strategic Communication is Key to Influence
            
When you want to influence others and get projects approve, strategic communication is key. Strategic communication isn't as hard as you think to achieve and learn.
Are you looking for ways to improve your workplace communication to have a more significant influence on others? Do you want colleagues and co-workers to listen and respond to what you have to say?
If yes, consider implementing change in your strategic communication habits.
While survey after survey emphasizes the importance of influencing and negotiation skills for achieving career success and promotion, influencing is more than that. Influential 
communication skills are vital
 in many aspects of the modern workplace—whether you work in cross-functional teams, manage external supplier relationships, or network with prospective clients.
Words are powerful, so use them to your advantage. In this article, we’ll discuss how communication creates a sturdy foundation of influence.
How Co-Workers Communicate
Co-workers use communication skills in many ways, whether in-person through meetings and casual interactions, or virtually through emails and other messaging systems.
Positive professional communication through collaboration is highly effective in the workplace. Leaders must communicate strategically to individuals as well as in group settings, such as presentations and panels.
In an ideal world, every conversation and interaction would drive business growth. Still, there are plenty of examples of poor communication that hinder daily productivity, which is why leaders need to build influential communication skills.
Don’t just repeat what everyone else is saying. Stir interest and influence others by adjusting your workplace communication tactics. But first, what is influence?
What Is Influence?
Negative connotations are surrounding the word “influence” because some people believe it’s about making people do things they do not want to do. However, influence isn’t about deceiving someone against their will.
Influence isn’t about making sales or developing marketing campaigns. And it’s not about being a sycophant to get something you want selfishly. Real influence is about trust. People say “yes” because they believe in the value in what you’re saying, and because they trust you.
However, persuasion and influence are not the same as credibility. When you’ve influenced someone, they voluntarily do something without receiving demands or pressure. To influence is to produce an effect or change with invisible ethical instruments or means.
Positive Triggers That Create Influence
In the 1980s, Robert Cialdini wrote 
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion
. In it, he outlined the six principles of persuasion—positive triggers that create influence—which are:
 	
Reciprocity
 	
Commitment/consistency
 	
Social proof
 	
Authority
 	
Liking
 	
Scarcity
1. Reciprocity
According to Cialdini, humans are wired to return favors and pay back debts. This is where the classic “treat others as they’ve treated us” phrase stems from.
The principle of reciprocity says that people feel obliged to provide discounts or concessions to others, by nature, if they’ve received similar favors from those people. According to psychology, humans despise feeling indebted to others.
Let’s say that you offer prospective customers a free e-book when they visit your website. It’s full of highly actionable and practical information that will improve their lives and businesses. Based on the principle of reciprocity, visitors will feel obligated to buy one of your products—providing you with a conversion.
2. Commitment
Humans have a deep need to deliver on promises and be seen as consistent. If we publicly commit to something, we are much more likely to follow-through and deliver.
People have associated commitment with their self-image, and strategic communicators have discovered how to use this to obtain influence.
3. Social Proof
We feel validated based on what other people are doing. Social proof is just that—people doing what they observe others doing. We feel safer in numbers.
For example, people are more likely to be late to work if they see their co-workers constantly arriving late. If you see a restaurant full of people beside one that’s empty, you’re going to give the full establishment a try first.
The principle of social proof even more influences people if they’re not self-confident or the people they observe are similar to themselves.
4. Authority
It’s human nature to obey authority figures—even if they ask us to commit objectionable acts.
Job titles and uniforms are both accessories that infuse an air of authority. This authority makes the average person more likely to accept what someone says. In commercials, for example, companies use doctors to head-up their ad campaigns.
5. Liking
The more you like and empathize with someone, the more quickly you’ll be persuaded by them.
If you like someone, it affects the chances of you being influenced by them. Liking is based on sharing similarities or a superficial interest, such as physical attractiveness.
6. Scarcity
When you believe something is demand, and in short supply, you want it more. The last of Cialdini’s persuasion principles is scarcity. It’s the perception that products and services are more attractive when there is limited availability.
We’re more likely to purchase a product if we’re informed that a special deal will expire soon, or the product is about to sell out. The fear of missing out is a powerful motivator that encourages us to act quickly.
How Strategic Communication is Key to Influence
Even armed with these principles, you cannot influence someone without the use of communication. It’s the foundation for any influence principle or tactic.
Social psychologists have found that we have specific shortcuts and signals to protect us and help us make decisions more quickly. Once you understand these shortcuts and signs, you can better influence others and help them know what you’re trying to get them to do or see.
For example, if people are uncertain about your suggestion, or it’s hard for others to understand, they are going to avoid what you suggest. If a manager faces a surprise at work, it often leads them not to take action, or delay until they can consider more facts.
A manager will react to the unexpected news by demanding answers to the questions it triggers. This behavior will derail your effort to be persuasive.
The element of surprise and uncertainty originates from our species’ need to survive. We continually look for what can be harmful to us. Even though the uncertainty that comes from surprise is a survival tactic, this awareness follows us to work.
When we speak unclearly, we ignite this negative shortcut in others. The person receiving our message becomes instantly skeptical of what we have to say. This phenomenon is called processing fluency.
Processing Fluency
The amount of effort or ease it takes for someone to understand your message is called 
processing fluency
. If someone can't understand what you are saying, their mind has to work harder to understand that information. The more work your listener must do, the less they will trust your message.
Simple communication is key.
According to neuroscience research, our brains view uncertainty and errors similarly. You don’t want your boss or business partner to struggle to understand when you’re communicating a new idea. You don’t want them to feel uncertain about how your suggestion will affect them.
Because of this, effective strategic communication is the first step in influencing any group of people.
Take Time to Fine-Tune Your Influential Communication Skills
The art of influencing through communication doesn’t come naturally to everyone. Strategic communication and influential communication skills are crucial to developing a sense of authority and learning to influence others with ease.
We’re here to give you confidence and the skills you need to inspire change. You’re the expert. We’re just here to pull that expertise out and help you deliver it effectively.
If you’re interested in working with us, 
click here
 to learn more about our online and live resources to help you become a messaging expert.

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## Page: COMMUNICATIONS_CAMPAIGN

Communications_Campaign
            
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3 Roadblocks that Can Stop You From Getting Your Ideas Accepted
Communicate so others will hear you and take action based on what you say
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1.
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When You Share Ideas,
They Will Listen to You
Apply a simple communication framework used by some of the top data scientists and engineers in the nation.
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Learn a simple way to express your ideas so others will listen. You will learn a framework that will give you confidence in how you express your ideas.
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## Page: CONTACT US

Send Us a Message
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## Page: EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION BOOTCAMP

Effective Communication Bootcamp
            
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Your Capabilities After This Program
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Removing Your
Uncertainty
—
When you communicate without knowing how to express your ideas, you have uncertainty and anxiety. When you communicate without clarity, you also cause uncertainty anxiety in your listener. Our aim is to remove uncertainty in your communication for you and the listener.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3" css=".vc_custom_1613361403423{padding-top: 100px !important;padding-bottom: 100px !important;background-color: #d7f4fe !important;}"][vc_column_text]
Transform Jumbled
Thoughts
—
We created a messaging framework that helps you create what you want to say quickly. We teach you what to ask yourself, how to brainstorm, and the mindset of finding clarity. You will be able to transform your jumbled thoughts into concise points on paper.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/6"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner equal_height="yes" gap="10"][vc_column_inner width="1/6" css=".vc_custom_1613315962917{padding-top: 100px !important;padding-right: 15px !important;padding-bottom: 100px !important;padding-left: 15px !important;}"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3" css=".vc_custom_1613361454016{padding-top: 100px !important;padding-bottom: 100px !important;background-color: #fadddb !important;}"][vc_column_text]
Communicate & Influence
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Understand the immediate relationship between what you say and how it can negatively or positively influence others. You will learn the fundamental skills need to communicate effectively and advanced skills to influence your audience.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3" css=".vc_custom_1613329882105{padding-top: 100px !important;padding-right: 15px !important;padding-bottom: 100px !important;padding-left: 15px !important;background-color: #e8dafc !important;border-radius: 3px !important;}"][vc_column_text]
Influence Principles
—
Framing Your Message to Influence Your Audience: Framing a message gives you the ability to put an invisible box around your message and highlight the points you want others to hear and remember from your communication.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/6"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=".vc_custom_1613325127069{margin-top: 35px !important;}"][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_separator color="custom" accent_color="#fbcd5e"][vc_column_text]
How You Learn
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You’ll interact live with other participants in a weekly Bootcamp meeting. You will also have one-on-one time with your Clear Points Messaging instructor:
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Weekly Live Training Lesson on Zoom
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One-on-One Personal Coaching Sessions
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Weekly Online Lesson in Training Hub
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What You Will Learn
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]You will learn how to avoid three pitfalls when communicating with others. You will know how to avoid them and you will learn a framework that can quickly guide you in message development hereafter.
 	
A method that quickly gives you concise points.
 	
A disciplined way to approach messages.
 	
Fundamentals of communication.
 	
A simple method to create a communication strategy.
[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Get Started" style="custom" custom_background="#e5443c" custom_text="#ffffff" size="lg" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fclearpointsmessaging.com%2Feffective-communication-registration%2F"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=".vc_custom_1613360667192{background-color: #04a6dc !important;}"][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text]
The Curriculum
Designed by communication experts at Clear Points Messaging.
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Week One:
Introduction
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SESSION
01
TUESDAY LIVE: How Effective Communication is a Shortcut to Influence
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SESSION
02
FRIDAY ONLINE: The Roadblocks to Effective Communication and How to Solve Them
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Week Two:
Fundamentals
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SESSION
03
TUESDAY LIVE: The Basic Building Blocks of Great Communication.
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SESSION
04
FRIDAY ONLINE: 
Removing Jargon From Your Communication.
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Week Three:
Building a Message
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SESSION
05
TUESDAY LIVE: The Messaging Framework
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SESSION
06
FRIDAY ONLINE: 
The Messaging Framework and Your Message Map
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Week Four:
Delivering Your Message
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SESSION
07
TUESDAY LIVE: Using a Message Map
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SESSION
08
FRIDAY ONLINE: Messaging 
Examples in the Media
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Week Five:
Making an Influence Plan
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SESSION
09
TUESDAY LIVE: Creating an Influence Plan
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SESSION
10
FRIDAY ONLINE: Influence Principles to Consider
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Week Six:
Mini Communication Plan
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SESSION
11
TUESDAY LIVE: Your secret weapon, Mini Influence Plan
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SESSION
12
FRIDAY ONLINE: Final Review
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Join us and learn the skills to effectively communicate.
[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Get Started" style="custom" custom_background="#e5443c" custom_text="#ffffff" size="lg" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fclearpointsmessaging.com%2Feffective-communication-registration%2F"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/3"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_column_text]
What Clients Say
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]I've had the pleasure of working with Jimmy Epperson for roughly a year and it is hard for me to summarize the impact he's had on my career.
Jimmy has a way of teasing out the complicated ideas in my brain and forming them into cohesive, concise, influential messages. While working with Jimmy, he's coached me in presenting a proposal to a Facebook VP, assisted me in creating an org-wide training that was widely taken by many executives, both in-person and virtually, and road mapping out a communications plan for my entire team.
Aside from helping me professionally, he's really helped me personally with building my confidence, being more direct and persuasive in the way I communicate, become a better listener, and coached me towards my long-term goals.
I don't say this lightly - I feel grateful to be able to work alongside Jimmy and appreciate the thoughtful, authentic approach he takes towards helping my team achieve its vision. I don't know (and don't want to know) where we'd be without him! :)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=".vc_custom_1613415251988{margin-top: 25px !important;background-color: #fbcd5e !important;}"][vc_column width="1/3"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3" css=".vc_custom_1613422057397{margin-top: 25px !important;margin-bottom: 25px !important;}"][vc_row_inner equal_height="yes" content_placement="middle" gap="10" css=".vc_custom_1613415321178{background-color: #ffffff !important;}"][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]
Meet Your Instructor
Jimmy Epperson
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Who is my Instructor?
Meet Jimmy Marlin Epperson
Messaging, influence and strategic communications are where I find my flow. I like to spend that time with technical employees, managers and experts who need help explaining their ideas or projects to their audiences.
My Background
I worked in communications for the last 20 years. Most recently I consulted for Facebook Analytics where I created a communication skills workshop and taught more than 600 data scientists and engineers how to influence others through simple, clear communication. The program received a 90+ approval rating.
I started my career as a newspaper reporter, where I learned the value of relationships, working hard and finding the most important facts. I had a short stint as a commercial fisherman in the Florida Keys. Then I moved into business consulting and worked for AT&T as an internal communication consultant before starting his own business in 2014.
What I Do Now
I own Clear Points Messaging and I continue to consultant for enterprise clients where I develop internal and external content. I also consult executives and managers on strategic communication plans and emotional intelligence.
How I Can Help You
I want to help you organize your thoughts. I want to bring structure and discipline to your thinking, whether you’re working with an internal team, talking to a prospect or preparing for a presentation.
I will help you build trust and empathy so you can explain your idea in a way where others will hear you and take action.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=".vc_custom_1613422630663{margin-top: 25px !important;margin-bottom: 25px !important;}"][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2" css=".vc_custom_1613422658940{background-color: #e2f5ff !important;}"][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width="2/3"][vc_column_text]
Effective Communications Bootcamp
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Includes:
— Bi-weekly office hours
— Weekly Live Learning Sessions
— Weekly Online Portal Lessons
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$900
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We also create private, customized courses for your team or organization. Contact us to learn more. 
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Questions? We're here to help.
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## Page: EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION REGISTRATION

Effective Communication Registration
            
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Develop a better understanding of influence and how to use communication to positively change people’s behaviors.
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Enrollment: $900
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After completing our Bootcamp, if you don't think the content will improve your business or your personal life, we'll give you a full refund.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color="custom" accent_color="#04a6dc"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2" css=".vc_custom_1613427798720{border-top-width: 6px !important;border-right-width: 6px !important;border-bottom-width: 6px !important;border-left-width: 6px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;border-left-color: #04a6dc !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #04a6dc !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #04a6dc !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #04a6dc !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;}"][ninja_form id="6"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color="custom" accent_color="#04a6dc"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"][vc_column_text]
Questions? We're here to help.
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## Page: EMOTIONAL HEALTH STEM ANALOGY

Frame Finding #003: Emotional Health, Framed Like STEM
            
You can change how people see a problem—by comparing it to one they already understand.
On 
Meet the Press
, former Rep. Patrick Kennedy made a case for mental health education in schools.
Instead of using statistics or crisis language, he used an 
analogy frame
:
"My wife's a public school teacher. Ten years ago, they had STEM education: science, technology, engineering, math. The business community said, 'We need this for competitiveness.' I would say today, for the same reason, employers need to insist that our public education system adopt skill-building in brain health—the ability for kids to learn how to manage stress. Because you can't have all these Gen Zs and beyond go to work and not be able to, one, focus on their job, or two, be worried because they can't manage their intrusive thoughts."
This quote is from Kennedy’s interview on 
NBC’s Meet the Press, May 2025
.
This is an Analogy Frame.
Analogy Structure:
A (STEM investment) is to X (competitiveness)
as
B (emotional regulation) is also to X (competitiveness)
An analogy draws a structural comparison between two different things to explain or justify one of them. In this case:
STEM education is being used as a familiar, accepted precedent.
Emotional regulation training is the new proposal.
The analogy says: we should treat B the way we treated A—because they serve the same purpose.
Even Though the Goal Is the Same…
The analogy works because the 
means
 are different:
Then: we taught coding and robotics.
Now: we need to teach stress management and emotional regulation.
It draws a comparison between two different types of investments, both aimed at the same strategic goal: competitiveness.
Kennedy is making a 
strategic argument
:
This is skill-building.
This is workforce readiness.
This is national competitiveness, just in a different form.
That’s the power of an 
Analogy Frame
: it brings unfamiliar ideas into familiar territory.
How You Can Use It
If your message is getting lost in complexity or resistance, ask:
What’s something the audience already believes in that is similar?
Can I draw a valid, vivid comparison to that?
How can I map the 
logic
 and 
stakes
 of that familiar idea to mine?
Analogies are framing tools that say:
This is not brand new. It’s just like something you already support.
Why This Frame Also Works
Consistency
The analogy triggers a desire for 
internal consistency
. If someone supported STEM to improve competitiveness, it would be inconsistent to now ignore emotional skill-building—which serves a similar function in today’s world. That inconsistency creates cognitive dissonance, nudging the audience toward agreement.
Authority
By referencing the business community’s prior support of STEM, Kennedy taps into the principle of 
authority
. If respected institutions once championed investment in education for competitiveness, that logic still holds. It signals this isn’t just a feel-good idea—it’s a serious, strategic priority.

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## Page: EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE THE REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD KNOW YOUR EMOTIONAL QUOTIENT

Emotional Intelligence: The Reasons Why You Should Know Your Emotional Quotient
            
In 
the early 1900s
, French psychologist Alfred Binet developed an IQ test to measure children's mental abilities. With his colleague, Theodore Simon, the two set up questions that assessed a child's ability to remember facts and solve problems. 
In recent years, a new form of assessing intelligence has become increasingly popular. It helps to identify strengths and weaknesses in both everyday life and the workplace. It's called emotional intelligence.
Two university professors began to develop a means for measuring emotional intelligence. They wanted to understand how it affected individuals' abilities to perform in the early 1990s.
Knowing and developing your emotional intelligence can make or break your success at work and home.
What Is Emotional Intelligence?
Emotional intelligence is understood to mean the emotional and social skills that a person needs to function well in society.
In 1995, 
Daniel Goleman's infamous book
 was published on emotional intelligence. It solidified the significance of emotional intelligence across the world. 
It opened the doors for groundbreaking behavioral research and helped redefine what it means to be intelligent. In the book, Goleman explains how someone with a high IQ doesn't necessarily perform well at work, whereas those with modest IQs tend to do better. 
His point was that performance isn't based solely on one form of intelligence. Self-discipline, empathy, and self-awareness pull greater weight. He wanted people to understand how they account for a different type of intelligence.
Emotional intelligence awareness and understanding can have a significant impact on one's life. They help us analyze how our emotions affect our behavior in many different situations.
With emotional intelligence, we recognize and understand how those feelings affect work performance. They also affect health and relationships.An emotionally competent person typically exhibits interpersonal and intra-personal skills.
What Are Interpersonal Skills?
Your interpersonal skills enable you to understand your strengths and weaknesses. Think of intra-personal skills as looking inward to yourself.
Character reflection and self-management skills both fall under the intra-personal category.
What Are Interpersonal Skills? 
Interpersonal skills come down to the way you communicate with others. They affect how you work collaboratively and create valuable relationships.
Someone who boasts good interpersonal skills typically has a positive outlook on life. They tend to be optimistic and cheerful in their disposition and in how they interact with others.
The more advanced your interpersonal skills are, the more you'll be able to adapt to different situations. They'll help you remain calm when faced with adversity or stress.
Through understanding intra-personal and interpersonal skills, the significance of emotional intelligence is apparent.
The Importance of Interpersonal Skills
How do you communicate with yourself? Think of intra-personal skills as a dialogue between you and yourself. When you're in tune with yourself, you can manage your emotions more effectively and be self-motivated.
The better your interpersonal skills, the more you can cope with distractions. They help you adjust your approaches accordingly, too. Let's take a look at some intra-personal skills that contribute to emotional intelligence.
Productivity
Your internal strengths and resolve are what contribute to productivity. How well do you handle your workload? Can you produce above-average results in an organized, goal-oriented manner?
Productivity is dependent on one's ability to take charge of their workload, both at work and in personal life.
Resourcefulness
Are you aware of your strengths? Do you know where to pull from to get new ideas or inspire creativity? Extraordinary resourcefulness allows for people to optimize their positive skills.
Resilience
Resilience is arguably the most essential intra-personal skill. 
Over 80%
 of United States workers experience and suffer from work-related stressors. 
If every time something stressful occurs, it takes you out, you'll never get anything done, and you'll only harm your health. Bouncing back from setbacks and stress with ease is a skill anyone can learn. Plus, it's a strong indicator that you have inherent positivity and power.
The Importance of Interpersonal Skills
Good interpersonal skills are an indication of emotional intelligence. People with excellent interpersonal skills know how to communicate with and work with others.
They're aware of every aspect of a conversation. They're aware of their tone and body language in addition to the message they're delivering or receiving. Let's take a look at some interpersonal skills that contribute to emotional intelligence.
Inclusiveness
Inclusiveness is an essential component of team building, especially as a professional leader. Inclusiveness encourages creative thinking and enables people to be heard.
This skill also builds a culture where growth is inevitable. Plus, it helps individuals feel safe expressing themselves.
Influence
The greater your ability to get people to listen, the more power you'll have to make positive changes. Those changes will encourage company growth, both culturally and monetarily.
You can't influence without self-awareness, self-reflection, and understanding of others, though. Most successful professionals with influence are backed by their ability to read the room.
Empathy
As a professional leader, one of the most incredible skills you can have is empathy. Coworkers and family can tell if you're able to make emotional connections with others. The more compassion you demonstrate, the more you'll be able to bond with coworkers, family, and colleagues alike.
Plus, empathy inspires loyalty and boosts morale. In turn, it inevitably leads to increased productivity and success.
Responsiveness
When you respond to people in your lives, no matter how significant their roles are, they feel heard. Responding promptly and respectfully is the only way to show others that you value their thoughts and time.
Those with high emotional intelligence can reflect on themselves and on the way they communicate with others.
How to Know Your Emotional Intelligence
There are different methods for understanding one's emotional intelligence. All tests attempt to measure one's Emotional Quotient (EQ) through a set of tasks or responses.
An emotional quotient is a measurement of one's emotional intelligence. People can figure out their EQ by taking an emotional intelligence test.
The Bar-On EQi, for example, consists of testing 5 emotional attributes. Dr. Reuven Bar-On devised it. The emotional attributes are tested through responses on a 5-point Likert scale. There are 133 items in this particular test.
The 5 attributes tested are:
 	
Intra
 	
personal
 	
Interpersonal
 	
Stress management
 	
Adaptability
 	
General mood
A Likert scale provides choices that range from agreeing to disagree, to neither agree nor disagree. The test report provides an overall score and additional scores for each sub-sector. A development report then suggests areas for improvement.
When an EQ is conducted for a group, a group report is provided.
Why Do People Test for Emotional Intelligence?
There are several reasons why a company would want to test its employees' EQs. Some companies use it for recruitment and then the training and development processes.
It can be used in clinical settings too when doctors want to know the capacity patients have to undergo rehabilitation. They can use the same test to then determine the success of rehabilitation programs, too.
EQ is used for medical and educational testing. It's also used by professionals on a personal basis. 
For example, say there's a CEO with a low approval rating. He might opt to hire a 
communication coach
. A coach will assess their emotional intelligence so that they can learn the necessary skills to become a better boss, leader, and advocate.
Assessing emotional intelligence can help identify where employees' strengths and weaknesses are, also. That way, they can be better placed in roles that suit them.
What Are the Benefits of Emotional Intelligence at Work?
More often than not, we allow ourselves to let emotions dictate crucial decisions. This can lead to problems at work and in one's personal life, though.
It's essential to understand and process emotions, but not to let them dictate your actions.
Great leaders possess the skills to develop an effective workplace that encourages growth and change. Managers must have the emotional intelligence necessary to communicate with their employees. That way, teams will be more apt to give their best and improve themselves as well.
Emotional intelligence plays an integral role in 
leadership communication
. Excellent leadership communication ensures that opportunities don't get missed. It ensures that teams stay on task and remain calm under pressure.
Emotional Intelligence Can Make or Break Your Success
Good emotional intelligence is essential for any individual who wants to thrive. Emotional intelligence demands self-reflection. It enables the ability to understand emotions and process them without acting on them.
For many people, emotional intelligence must be learned. Just like social skills, excellent communication, and leadership, emotional intelligence requires specific skills.
Great managers and leaders know and understand how to communicate with their employees. They're emotionally aware and understand that success is often determined by the choices they make.
Emotions are crucial, but when we use them to make decisions, it often ends in chaos. Learning how to process and understand your own emotions and the behaviors of others can lead to success in all relationships.
Are you ready to enhance your emotional intelligence and see improvement throughout all aspects of your life? 
Contact us
 to learn more about what we can do to help.

--- 
## Page: EMPLOYEE COMMUNICATION TRAINING

Effective Communication Training for Employees | Dallas
            
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Effective Employee Communication Training
Express Ideas With Influence
Learn a Simple Framework to get your ideas accepted
by your business partners and team members
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Improve Employee Communication Skills with a Simple Framework
We work on your message while you learn the fundamentals of communication during your messaging workshop. It’s called Action Learning Engagement. You learn by doing and creating.
Professionally develop your team by learning the Clear Points Messaging method. We work on a communication project together, while teaching you basics of communication and our method to find clarity.
By the end of the live course, you will have a message to share and learn a new process to create messages.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/6"][/vc_column][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width="stretch_row" css=".vc_custom_1556116854032{padding-top: 35px !important;padding-bottom: 35px !important;background-color: #eaeaea !important;}"][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Technical Employee Communication Training
If you have a good idea but cannot clearly express it, does it exist? We don't think so.
We train you so you can immediately apply the communication principles you learn to real projects in your office.
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Applying Fundamentals
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While you learn the fundamentals of communication, you are applying it to your project. We learn by doing. At the end of this section of training, you will have a clear, concise message for your project.
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Infusing Influence Principles
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Once you have a clear, concise message, we begin applying 
persuasion techniques
 to your message. The goal is to make your message as influential as possible.
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Communication Practice
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Once our clear, influential message is crystalized, we begin strategizing and practicing the best way to deliver the message. Depending on your business needs we might video record you or practice your pitch.
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Why are Communication Skills So Important?
Unclear messages actually cause distrust.
If it takes a lot of work for someone to understand your message, they immediately are skeptical. And, based on research, they will automatically think what you are saying is not based on reason, it is untrue, unreliable… and even dangerous.
When you communicate unclearly, your listener will automatically pay more attention to the threat of uncertainty than trying to uncover the true benefit you are offering them.
With employee communication training, you will ensure your teams communicates persuasively and in a trustworthy way.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/6"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width="stretch_row" css=".vc_custom_1568663126184{padding-top: 35px !important;padding-bottom: 35px !important;background-color: #eaeaea !important;}"][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/4"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/2"][vc_column_text]
Get More Work Done
Work on a real problem at work that you’re trying to get others to accept. At the end of the workshop, you will have an Influence Plan to get your project or idea accepted.
Use a framework we taught to AT&T employees and the Facebook analytics team. Creating simple communication will be easy and influencing others will become effortless.
Learn a simple way to express your ideas so others will listen. You will learn a framework that will give you confidence in how you express your ideas.
It will position you as an authority and help you set the direction for your team and business.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/4"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width="stretch_row" css=".vc_custom_1599915287292{padding-top: 35px !important;padding-bottom: 35px !important;}"][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/4"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/2"][vc_column_text]
Effective Communication Skills Course Outline
Clear Points Messaging training is for data scientists, data engineers and technical professionals, managers and business owners. The training gives participants the courage to express their insights and recommendations to other internal teams. The training helps data scientists and data engineers translate their insights so key stakeholders can understand and take action based on specific, and thought-out recommendations.
The goal of this training is to clearly and influential articulate insights, projects and recommendations a data scientist or business professional would make based on their experiments, knowledge and expertise.
It gives professionals the ability to clearly communicate and implement a simple influential strategy to impact their team, key stakeholders and the business.
When you leave our workshop, you have a plan you can begin implementing immediately.
We call it an Influence Plan, which gives you a strategic plan to communicate your messages and build an environment that will more likely influence your audience. You can start implementing your plan immediately.
During the workshop, we will go through quick lessons, exercises and brainstorms to fill this sheet out. This is not a class lecture.
This is an interactive workshop where you will work on a real project.
­­­­­
Effective Employee Communication Training Course Objectives
:
 	
Learn and execute a message development framework to simplify your message to your audience. Understand and apply the fundamentals of basic communications and how these principles apply to influencing others.
 	
Learn how to apply influence principles before and when delivering a message. Learn the most influential way to deliver your message to others.
 	
Confidently communicate how your recommendations, insights and ideas will improve a product and impact the business.
 	
Improve a product manager’s, boss’s or cross functional team member’s understanding of how your recommendation impacts decisions, products and the business.
Communication Skills Course Outline:
Each workshop participant will work with another individual or team. Together they will complete each lesson and present their results out to the overall audience.
Pre-Work Requirements:
 Brainstorm who you want to influence and what you want them to do.
 	
Communication Basics – How to make a message
 	
Basics of crafting a message: Topic, Audience, Audience Action
 	
Audience Framing, WIIFMs
 	
Clarify, Clarify, Clarify
 	
Message Development and Message Review
 	
Communication Delivery
 	
Create a communication plan
 	
Brainstorm with Delivery and Planning Exercises
 	
Report out plan ands strategy to influence key stakeholders to group
 	
Influence Strategy
 	
Review Persuasion Tactics
 	
Brainstorm principles you will deploy
 	
Fill out Influence Worksheet
 
Section One
Fundamentals of Communication
and Message Development
 
1.5 hours
Section Two
Delivering Your Message
 
1 Hour
Section Three
Practicing your Message
and Reviewing Your Influence Plan
 
1 Hour
Section Four
Using Tried andTrue Influence Principles
 
1 Hour
 
About Your Instructor
Jimmy Marlin
 most recently created training for Facebook’s technical professionals. He created a simple way to create an Influence Plan, which is a plan to communicate and help others understand your project or idea. At the end of the class participants have a clear way to express their idea and a plan to deliver that message in a persuasive way. Jimmy Marlin has been working on this simple framework for the last six years.
How Do I Take the Workshop? 
Because of COVID19, everything is virtual. Contact us to learn about our virtual rates. We are developing an online version of this class. It is Virtual Instructor Led Training. It is live and helps you develop an Influence Plan.
About Simple Frameworks
Simple Frameworks is a product by Clear Points Messaging LLC. We are a communication strategy company that works with technical professionals and business owners. We help people like data scientists and engineers fill the communication gap between them and their business partners. We teach them communication best practices and show them how to build Influence Plans so they can get their projects accepted by their team members.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Call us or contact us below to learn more.
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[ninja_form id=1]
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Getting Started
Get the Communication Training You Need to Advance Your Career And Grow Your Skills
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--- 
## Page: FACEBOOK ANALYTICS

Case Study: Facebook Analytics
            
Summary:
Clear Points Messaging created curriculum based on our Simple Frameworks Workshops that transformed how data scientists and engineers at Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp communicate. Working with the head of analytics and the department's Learning and Development lead, we were able to consultant and uncover the best ways employees were already communicating.
The Challenge:
The Analytics head at Facebook wanted his data scientists and engineers to have more influence around products. He wanted to give them confidence and a framework that would help them communicate.
The Solution:
We created an Influence Workshop that taught data scientists and engineers the basics of sound communication and a simple message framework. We also taught basic principles of influence so they could better persuade their peers and business partners.
Ongoing Benefits:
Facebook now has an evergreen influence class that teaches participants three areas to focus on when delivering a message: basics of communication, messaging framework and persuasive environments.
Who Was Helped:
We helped teach 600 data scientists and engineers in six months, and they are still being trained to this day. This also helped the entire company build better products based on real data and expertise from their data scientists and engineers.
 

--- 
## Page: FALLACY FRAME 1

Frame Finding #001: When a fallacy is the frame
            
Spotted in:
 White House press briefing, covered by The New York Times
Topic:
 Walmart CEO's tariff warning
Frame Used:
 Circumstantial Ad Hominem Frame
“The C.E.O. of Walmart made those comments about tariffs on an earnings call, where C.E.O.s, I believe, are legally obligated to give the most dire warnings and forecasts to their investors and stakeholders.”
— White House press secretary, via 
The New York Times
What This Frame Does
This isn’t a policy rebuttal. It’s a rhetorical move.
Rather than evaluate the content of the Walmart CEO’s warning, the press secretary redirects the audience’s attention to his motivation:
 	
He didn’t mean it—he was just obligated to say it
 	
The statement isn’t about truth, it’s about context
 	
You don’t need to take the warning seriously
The fallacy becomes a frame. It doesn’t sound like manipulation. It sounds like clarity. But it works by quietly shifting the focus away from the issue itself.
Why It Works
 	
Redirects attention from the claim to the speaker
 	
Feels like insider logic, not deflection
 	
Leverages audience skepticism toward corporate motives
This is what happens when a fallacy becomes a frame: it bypasses logical scrutiny without alerting the audience that anything has changed.
Takeaway for Communicators
If you want to neutralize a statement without arguing with it, reframe it as situational.
Not:
 “That’s not true.”
Instead:
 “They had to say that because of their role.”

--- 
## Page: FRAME FINDING

Frame Finding
            
🧠 Frame Finding
See what others miss.
				
Every message is framed. 
In ads. 
In headlines. 
In leadership speeches and in politics. 
Frame Finding breaks down one powerful example each month, so you can learn the strategy behind the message.
What You’ll Get:
- One real-world message analyzed each month
- Bonus breakdowns when culture shifts
- No fluff—just sharp, useful insights
- Trusted by communicators, strategists, and thoughtful professionals
Why It Matters:
Framing shapes what people notice, how they feel, and what they do next.
If you want to become more persuasive—or harder to persuade—this is where you sharpen that skill.✅ Subscribe to Stay Sharp
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## Page: FRAME FINDING 002 SAME FACTS DIFFERENT FRAME

Frame Finding #002: Same Facts, Different Frame
            
You can change the entire story—just by adding one fact.
Situation: An example is when President Trump met with the president of Syria. All major media outlets covered the same meeting.
But the headlines? Totally different frames.
“
Trump Meets Former Militant Who Now Leads Syria
.”
— 
New York Times
“
Trump’s embrace of Syria and its jihadist-turned-president could shake up the Middle East
”
— 
CNN
“
Ahmed al-Sharaa, the former jihadist rehabilitated by Trump who has brought Syria in from the cold
”
— 
El Pais English
"
Trump meets with Syria’s interim president, a first between the nations’ leaders in 25 years
"
— 
AP News
Same story. Same moment. 
But each headline chose a different detail to spotlight—and that changed the 
emotional filter
 completely.
This is Framing.
More specifically, it’s an 
Attribute Frame
.
It works like this:
 	
You choose one attribute—“former jihadist” vs. “interim president.”
 	
You shine a light on it.
 	
The audience doesn’t just see the story—they feel it through that lens.
The message hasn’t changed.
But the 
frame
 has changed how we 
interpret
 it.
How to Use This in Your Own Communication
Whenever you're trying to get buy-in on something complex—an idea, a proposal, a risk—don’t just pile on the facts.
Choose the 
right attribute
 to frame it.
Ask:
 	
What detail will stick in their head?
 	
What attribute shapes the emotion behind this?
 	
What’s the most memorable or telling aspect of the idea?
One sharp detail. One bold frame.
That’s the difference between being heard and being ignored.
Don’t just explain it.
Reframe it.

--- 
## Page: FRAME FINDING 005

Frame Finding #005: What Eric Schmidt Isn’t Saying About AI
            
This write up is based on Eric Schmidt’s Ted Talk in May of 2025. 
Framing in communication comes down to choice.
You decide what to highlight and how to highlight it.
You might avoid certain facts. You might focus only on the upside.
In a TED Talk, Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, talks about artificial intelligence.
In setting a tone and selecting details, what he doesn’t say is just as important as what he does.
While his talk includes serious concerns about the global race to capture AI, the way he frames those concerns, and what he puts front and center, shapes you and my perception from the start.
Let’s take a look. 
The Moment the Revolution Began
“In 2016 we didn’t understand what was now going to happen… there was a new move invented by AI in a game that had been around for 2,500 years that no one had ever seen technically… What does this mean? How is it that our computers could come up with something that humans had never thought about?”
Schmidt opens with a story. Not an abstract idea or a bold prediction—but a specific, surprising moment: 
AlphaGo
, an AI system, made a move in the game of Go that no human had ever made in over two millennia of play.
It shocked even the world’s best players because it was brilliant. It redefined how the game could be played.
It’s an effective 
Story/Narrative Frame
, but it does more than just orient the audience.
Schmidt uses it to quietly establish authority. He was there. He saw the implications. He asked the right questions.
That’s an Authority Frame, and he becomes someone who saw it coming.
He also uses Contrast:
Billions of human minds across centuries missed what a machine saw instantly.
Humans lose exclusivity on intuition. He doesn’t need to say “AI is smarter than us” because the frame says it for him.
But It’s What He Doesn’t Say That Matters, Too
Schmidt never pauses to ask whether this new intelligence might have unintended consequences.
That absence is also a choice.
Because while AI may seem like a superpower, it quietly reshapes how people think, and what they think about.
What happens when AI is fully functional and adopted by business:
Critical thinking declines
Creativity flattens
Job losses increase and stronger competition for real jobs steepens
Dependency deepens
Power concentrates to a few companies
Manipulation becomes indistinguishable from communication.
These are serious implications of AI. However, none of that appears in Schmidt’s framing.
He never asks what happens to the human mind or our jobs in a world where machines outthink us—and where we stop trying.
The Preemptive Strike Hypothetical
“If you get there first, you dastardly person, you're never going to be able to catch me… What’s my next choice? Bomb your data center.”
This a second major frame in Schmidt’s talk.
After setting AI up as a revolutionary force, Schmidt shifts tone. Suddenly, it’s not about productivity or progress. It’s about power. And threat.
He tells a story. A hypothetical story about the competitive race and how it will get violent. 
“You’re the good guy. I’m the bad guy. You’re six months ahead of me in AI development. I know I can’t catch up. So what do I do? I try to sabotage you. And if that fails… I bomb your data center.”
This is a Slippery Slope:
AI gives one country an advantage
That advantage creates panic
Panic justifies extreme action
Action leads to war
But here’s where the framing turns. Schmidt doesn’t call for a pause.
Instead, he lands on the Settlement Frame: guardrails, not shutdowns.
He’s not advocating caution. He’s advocating containment.
Closed models. Limited access. Centralized oversight. Not to prevent progress—but to keep it out of the wrong hands.
And that control? It belongs to those who “understand it best.”
Which, implicitly, includes him.
This isn’t just a warning. It’s a repositioning of the AI conversation—from open innovation to security and restriction.
Section 3: The Agent Analogy
“So let’s think about agents… Now one of you switches to a different language, and we don’t know what you’re doing. What’s the right thing to do? Unplug you.”
This is Schmidt’s most effective analogy—and one of the most powerful framing moves in the entire talk.
The topic is autonomy. Yoshua Bengio has suggested labs should pause work on agentic AI. Schmidt responds with a human-scale story:
You’re an agent. Input, output, memory.
One day, you stop using English. You invent your own language.
We can’t understand you anymore. What do we do? Unplug you.
This is a Metaphor Frame and a Narrative Frame—and it works.
It makes a complicated topic feel simple, even obvious.
But “unplug” isn’t a benign word. It’s a placeholder for deactivation. Shutdown. Preemptive destruction.
He then outlines the threats that justify it:
Recursive self-improvement
Direct access to weapons
Reproducing without permission
Each risk builds fear. This is a Negative Frame with a gentle delivery.
And once again, we land at the Settlement Frame: “Stopping doesn’t work in a globally competitive market.”
The implication: if we can’t stop agentic AI, we must control it—fully.
Not as ethicists. As owners.
What’s Left Unquestioned?
Why does global competition justify building something we can’t control?
Why is containment the only alternative to progress at any cost?
Who decides when to unplug—and who gets unplugged?
Schmidt doesn’t frame those questions. He doesn’t have to.
Because once the analogy is inside you—once you see yourself needing to unplug someone—it’s hard to ask anything else.
That’s framing at its most subtle—and most effective.
What Gets Framed, and What Gets Left Out
This analysis doesn’t cover every line of Schmidt’s talk. It focuses on three pivotal moments—the framing shifts that carry the most weight:
The origin story that positions AI as a breakthrough beyond human comprehension
The hypothetical standoff that turns AI into a geopolitical weapon
The agent analogy that makes control sound humane, inevitable, and necessary
Each of these moments reshapes the audience’s perception—not through argument, but through emphasis, contrast, and omission.
And in choosing to highlight only those moments, I’ve done the same. That’s framing, too.
The danger isn’t just in how leaders talk about AI.
 It’s in how easily we absorb their framing—without noticing what’s missing.

--- 
## Page: FRAME FINDING 006

Frame Finding #006: The Deflection Stack
            
Spotted in:
 
ABC’s This Week
, May 18, 2025
Topic:
 Qatar's $400M gift of a 747 jet for use as Air Force One
Frame Used:
 The Deflection Stack (Layered Spin)
KARL:
 “What do the Qataris expect in return for a $400 million present to the United States?”
WITKOFF:
 “It’s a perfectly legal transaction… Governments exchange services… The president has done an incredible array of wonderful deals… They decided to donate because of all the wonderful things we’ve done for them… I’m not sure how anyone would see this as the Qataris looking to gain some sort of advantage… It just has to be seen that way.”
What This Frame Does
When pressed on whether a massive foreign gift carries expectations or strings attached, United States Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff doesn’t answer the question.
Instead, he builds what we’re calling 
The Deflection Stack
—a rhetorical sequence of spin that 
appear
s to offer clarity but actually moves you further from the original concern.
Each layer is designed to neutralize skepticism. Here’s how he did it: 
1. Normalize it
It’s a perfectly legal transaction.
This happens in the normal course of politics… throughout our existence.
Translation: Nothing unusual. Don’t question it.
2. Say we earned it
They decided to donate something because of all the wonderful things that we’ve done for them in the past.
Translation: We earned this. It’s not a bribe—it’s a thank-you.
3. Shift to praise
The president has done an incredible array of wonderful deals… all kinds of opportunities for this country.
Translation: Focus on Trump’s success, not foreign influence.
4. Shut it down
It just has to be seen as good for America.
Translation: There’s only one correct interpretation—don’t overthink it.
Why It’s Spin
This is classic spin—but with structure. The 
Deflection Stack
 structured so:
Each layer sounds reasonable in isolation
The shift from “Is this appropriate?” to “Look at the benefits” feels safe
It closes with a tone of certainty
, making disagreement feel irrational or unpatriotic
It’s not a single argument—it’s a sequence of reframes designed to 
preempt
 doubt, 
recode
 motive, and 
flood
 the zone with contextless positivity.
Takeaway for Communicators
When someone builds a Deflection Stack:
Trace it back to the original question
: What was asked, and what got dodged?
Separate the layers
: Legal ≠ ethical. Normal ≠ harmless. Praise ≠ proof.
Don’t argue the top layer
—call out the stack itself.
Frame Title:
 
The Deflection Stack
 
Core Move:
 Layered reframing to avoid scrutiny
 
Main Function:
 Shifts focus from 
motive
 to 
legitimacy
, 
normalcy
, and 
praise

--- 
## Page: FRAME FINDING 007

Frame Finding #007: The “Referee” Metaphor
            
Spotted in:
 Qatar Economic Forum, recorded by Bloomberg
 
Topic:
 AI regulation
 
Frame Used:
 Metaphor Frame + Role Reversal
“You can think of regulators like referees on the field in sports. There should be some number of referees, but you shouldn't have so many that you can't kick the ball without hitting one.”
— Elon Musk, Qatar Economic Forum
This quote appeared in a 
YouTube interview recorded by Bloomberg at the Qatar Economic Forum
.
What This Frame Does
Musk reframes the role of regulators from faceless bureaucrats to referees—figures who are necessary for fair play but must stay out of the way of the game.
Rather than say, “too much regulation can slow innovation,” the speaker uses a frame you feel:
You're on the field trying to play
The refs are supposed to help, not hinder
Too many rules spoil the game
It gives the audience a vivid, physical sense of interference and frustration—while still acknowledging the value of regulation.
Why It Works
Emotion first, logic second
Uses a universally understood metaphor (sports)
Positions the speaker as pro-fairness, not anti-regulation
This metaphor diffuses the idea that Musk is anti-regulation. It reframes him as someone who wants the game to be fair—but still playable.
Takeaway for Communicators
If you want your audience to support fewer restrictions without sounding reckless, don’t debate policy. Frame the interference.
Not:
 “Regulations create unnecessary friction in AI development.”
Instead:
 “It’s like trying to play soccer with ten referees on the field.”

--- 
## Page: FRAME FINDING 008

Frame Finding #008: “What Problem Is He Trying to Solve?”
            
Spotted in:
 NPR
Topic:
 Harvard president on Trump funding freeze
Frame Used:
 Loss Aversion, Interrogating Motives
"But the question to ask is what problem is he trying to solve by doing that?"
 — Alan Garber, President of Harvard University, NPR
This quote appeared in an 
NPR interview
.
 In May 2025, the federal government proposed withholding research funding from universities like Harvard due to their inclusion of international students on campus. In response, Harvard President Alan Garber spoke with NPR to address the potential impact of the proposed changes, highlight the university’s research contributions, and questioned the rationale behind the shift.
What This Frame Does
This frame does two things. First, it highlights the value of federally funded research by citing tangible breakthrough.
Harvard helped produce GLP-1 drugs for diabetes and gene editing to cure diseases. But more strategically, it frames the proposed cuts as a looming loss for the entire country. This is classic 
loss aversion
: the focus isn’t on what Harvard 
deserves
, but on what the public will lose.
Garber also reframes the entire premise of the administration’s argument by interrogating its logic: “But the question to ask is what problem is he trying to solve by doing that?” That simple sentence flips the burden of justification. Instead of Harvard defending itself, the administration now has to explain its motives and consequences.
But the delivery isn’t flawless.
 Garber’s argument is long-winded. He tries to do too much at once: defend research, question motives, and cite examples. It risks losing urgency and clarity.
Here’s how a tighter version might land:
The question the Trump Administration needs to ask is what problem they're trying to solve by cutting research funding.
does research really have anything to with international students?
Our research has brought breakthroughs in gene editing, diabetes treatment, and cancer. He wants to get rid of that? What will that solve?
Rather than say, “The cuts would harm us,” the speaker uses a frame you feel:
You’re about to lose something valuable you didn’t realize was at risk
You start questioning the logic behind the policy
You shift focus from defending an institution to defending national progress
It’s a pivot from reactive defense to loss reframing—and it works even better when delivered with focus.
Why It Works
Emotion first, logic second
No technical knowledge required—examples are relatable (cancer, obesity, diabetes)
Implies urgency without exaggeration
By blending credibility with consequence, Garber avoids sounding self-interested. Instead, he frames the issue as a collective loss for the public good—while flipping the burden of justification onto the administration.
Takeaway for Communicators
If you want your audience to question a harmful proposal, don’t defend yourself. Question the motive behind the change—and make the consequences tangible.
Not:
 “We need the money.”
Instead:
 “What problem are you trying to solve—and are you willing to lose these breakthroughs to do it?”

--- 
## Page: FRAME FINDING 009

Frame Finding #009: The Question Shift
            
Spotted in:
 NPR interview
 
Topic:
 National Security Council restructuring
 
Frame Used:
 Question Reframing
Background
: In a late-Friday move before a holiday weekend, the Trump administration abruptly dismissed around half the National Security Council staff. Framed as a restructuring by Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio, the cuts reflect a broader trend of downsizing intelligence and national security roles in Trump’s second term.
“Well, it's a reduction in staff. I may surprise you by what I'm about to say. I have no problem with reducing the size of the NSC staff significantly, maybe even by half. It had grown over the course of the last two decades. It had grown out of all proportion. The question is really not how many people are on it. The question is what's its role. And when I heard that Rubio wants to change the role – change it to what? It performs a very essential role, and if you're going to change that, we're going to have problems in national security.”
 — Richard Clarke, national security expert who served under several administrations.
This quote appeared in a 
NPR interview
.
How Clarke Reframed the Worry
Clarke reoriented the conversation from a political decision of cutting staff to a strategic one, the function of a national security counsel. 
By changing the question from “how many people were let go?” to “what role does this body serve?” Clarke reframes what matters most.
Rather than say, “The Trump administration needs to keep the role as it’s always been,” the speaker instead:
Builds consensus: he agrees that cuts to headcount needed to be made. 
Offers empathy: He understands why Trump fired the last NSC lead. 
Then he says, the real question is what role will this play in the administration, because it has a very key role that could be overlooked. 
It plants a seed of concern: if the function is misunderstood or removed, something essential could break.
Why It Works
It shifts from tactical numbers to strategic purpose
It neutralizes criticism by showing agreement before pivoting
It reframes the issue without sounding alarmist
By repositioning the question, Clarke takes control of the conversation. He doesn’t argue the cut directly—he makes the cut irrelevant compared to the real threat: misunderstanding the role itself.
Takeaway for Communicators
If you want your audience to rethink the issue entirely, don’t fight the old premise, replace it with a better question.
Not: “The Trump administration needs to maintain the NSC’s role.”
Instead: “The question isn’t how many staff the NSC has. The question is what role it plays—and whether consolidating it into the state department puts national security at risk.”

--- 
## Page: FRAME FINDING 010

Frame Finding #010: The "Let’s Talk About Wildfires" Pivot
            
Spotted in:
 YouTube (U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright interview)
 
Topic:
 Wildfires and climate change
 
Frame Used:
 Pivot Frame + Historical Context
    “Let’s talk about wildfires. The Western U.S. used to burn like crazy. A century ago, we suppressed fire aggressively. That worked for decades, but starting in the '70s and '80s, we changed our approach—letting forests grow wild again. Today, there's more fuel, so we get more intense fires. That’s the history. That’s the data.”
— Chris Wright, U.S. Secretary of Energy, 
Watch on YouTube
This quote appeared in a 
YouTube interview
.
What This Frame Does
Chris Wright reframes a loaded climate question, not by dodging, but by steering and owning what he said.
An audience member said he saw on Wright’s Twitter profile that he wrote climate change was a hoax. The memeber from the audience mentioned the 
Marshall fire
 in Colorado that destroyed more than a 1,000 homes. He then asked, can you look those people in the eye and tell them clincate change is hyped?
Rather than directly argue about climate change, he pivots to shift the conversation from 
climate blame
 to 
wildfire management
. Then he anchors the discussion in 
historical context
, giving the audience a bigger-picture story that feels informed, not defensive.
Instead of saying: 
“Climate change caused this wildfire
 end of story.”
 he says: 
“Climate change isn’t a crisis and here’s what’s really going on with wildfires.”
Shifts focus from political blame to practical history
Signals preparedness and composure under pressure
Appeals to reason over emotion—without denying tragedy
Why It Works
He’s reframing the premise.
 He doesn’t fight the interviewer’s question directly. He 
redirects it
 toward a topic he controls.
He sounds informed, not flippant.
 The historical story isn’t combative, it’s educational.
He sidesteps polarization by avoiding emotional language.
 Instead of rebutting the wildfire deaths directly, he invites a deeper discussion of causes.
This pivot transforms a potential gotcha moment into a masterclass in composed, values-driven framing.
Takeaway for Communicators
When confronted with an emotionally loaded challenge, you don’t have to fight the premise. You can 
reframe the moment
 into a topic you’ve already mastered. That’s not evasion, it’s strategy.
Dry version:
“No, I don’t think climate change caused this wildfire.”
Framed version:
 “Let’s talk about wildfires. They’ve always happened, and how we manage forests plays a major role. That changed in the '70s, and that change matters.”

--- 
## Page: FRAME FINDING 011

Frame Finding #011: The Sandwich Comparison
            
Spotted in:
 TED Talk by Yoshua Bengio
Topic:
 AI Regulation
Frame Used:
 Contrast Frame
  “Actually, a sandwich has more regulation than AI.”
— Yoshua Bengio, 
TED Talk
This quote appeared in a 
TED Talk by Yoshua Bengio
.
What This Frame Does
Bengio lays out the catastrophic risks of AI—including self-preservation tendencies—then drops a disarming contrast that reframes the entire regulatory conversation.
Rather than say, “AI isn’t regulated enough,” he gives you a comparison you feel:
You feel the absurdity: something as harmless as a sandwich is more regulated
You’re forced to question priorities in public policy
You sense urgency—but through dry wit, not panic
This frame shifts the conversation from technical complexity to common sense.
Why It Works
Follows a high-stakes setup with a low-stakes punchline
Turns regulation into a relatable issue anyone can understand
Reframes policy in terms of priorities, not process
The humor doesn’t soften the risk—it sharpens it.
Takeaway for Communicators
Dry version:
 “Artificial intelligence is vastly under-regulated given its risks.”
Framed version:
“Actually, a sandwich has more regulation than AI.”
One you process intellectually.
 The other one hits you immediately.

--- 
## Page: FRAME FINDING 012

Frame Finding #012: The Ad Hominem Redirect
            
Spotted in:
 
The Hill
Topic:
 Media response to allegations
Frame Used:
 Ad Hominem Redirect
    “Is The New York Times — is that the same publication that got a Pulitzer Prize for false reporting on the Russiagate? Is that the same organization? I think it is. I think the judge just ruled against New York Times for their lines about the Russiagate hoax, and they may have to give back their Pulitzer Prize. That New York Times. Let’s move on.”
— Elon Musk, responding to Fox News’s Peter Doocy in the Oval Office
This quote appeared in a 
report by The Hill
, in reference to a New York Times article covering Musk's alleged drug use.
What This Frame Does
Rather than directly respond to the content of the article, Musk reframes the issue as one of media credibility. He calls attention to past criticism of The New York Times to undermine the outlet’s authority—without addressing the current claim.
Instead of saying, “That report is inaccurate,” Musk uses an ad hominem frame to make the audience feel:
Suspicion toward the media outlet
Emotionally primed by unrelated controversies
That the question isn’t worth answering
This rhetorical move discredits the messenger rather than the message itself—shifting focus away from the question and onto the questioner.
Why It Works
It aligns with audience skepticism of mainstream media.
It introduces prior controversy to overshadow the current topic.
It reframes the interaction as unfair or biased interrogation.
By questioning the motives and record of the media outlet, the speaker avoids addressing the substance of the report, while positioning themselves as unfairly targeted.
Takeaway for Communicators
Flat response: “The New York Times reported I may be using drugs. That’s false.”
Framed response:
 “The New York Times—the same people who got a Pulitzer for Russiagate? Let’s move on.”
One denies. The other redirects by casting doubt on the source.

--- 
## Page: FRAME FINDING 013

Frame Finding #013: From Spending Bill to Jet Fuel
            
Spotted in:
 
NBC’s Meet the Press
Topic:
 Trump’s Economic Legislation
Frame Used:
 Attribute Reframe + Metaphor + Benefit Avalanche
    “This is not a spending bill. This is a reconciliation package… This is going to be jet fuel… There’s benefits for everybody.”
— Speaker of the House, 
Meet the Press
, June 2025
This quote appeared in an 
NBC interview on Meet the Press
.
What This Frame Does
The Speaker reframes the bill’s identity—
not
 as a “spending bill” but as a “reconciliation package.”
That distinction isn’t just rhetorical—it’s procedural. Reconciliation rules let the Senate bypass the filibuster, avoiding a 60-vote threshold.
This is an 
attribute frame
: it shifts the perceived nature of the bill from something bloated to something restorative. The term “reconciliation” evokes 
balancing
 and 
fiscal correction
, even though the package includes major tax cuts and spending increases.
Once that reclassification lands, he injects a vivid metaphor—calling the bill 
“jet fuel”
 for the economy. That image signals power, speed, and takeoff. He then delivers a 
benefit avalanche
: tax relief on tips and overtime, rising wages, and promises of job growth.
Together, this framing combo transforms a bill that may increase the deficit into something that 
feels
 like an economic lifeline for working Americans.
Why It Works
Attribute Reframe:
 “Reconciliation package” sidesteps criticism by implying repair, not excess.
Metaphor Injection:
 “Jet fuel” evokes thrust, momentum, and national urgency—without policy detail.
Benefit Avalanche:
 A cascade of outcomes keeps attention high and doubt low.
🧠 Framing Equation
Attribute Reframe
 → 
Metaphor Injection
 → 
Benefit Avalanche
Takeaway for Communicators
Dry Version:
“Yes, this bill includes spending and tax cuts, but we believe the overall effect will be positive.”
Framed Version:
“This isn’t a spending bill—it’s a Big, Beautiful Bill that reconciles our budget and injects jet fuel into the American economy.”

--- 
## Page: FRAME FINDING 014

Frame Finding #014: The “Broken Alignment” Frame
            
Spotted in:
 U.S. Senate Floor Remarks
Topic:
 Republican Budget Bill and Tax Cuts
Frame Used:
 Alignment Exposure Frame
    “Millions of children will go hungry in order to fund tax breaks for billionaires. And some 14 million Americans will lose health care coverage to fund tax breaks for billionaires. And so in short, families lose and billionaires win—which is the opposite of what President Trump campaigned on.”
— U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley
This quote appeared in remarks made on the U.S. Senate floor during debate on a Republican budget proposal.
What This Frame Does
Sen. Merkley isn’t just criticizing a bill—he’s revealing 
who benefits
 versus 
who doesn’t
, and highlighting a 
break in consistency
 with previously stated goals.
Rather than say, “This is a bad policy,” Merkley frames it so you notice:
The visible outcomes of the bill—who it helps and who it harms
The tension between those outcomes and earlier campaign themes
Why It Works
Contrast:
 Merkley highlights a clear difference between who is harmed and who is helped, making the stakes of the bill easier to understand.
Consistency:
 By pointing to a mismatch between the bill’s outcomes and earlier campaign promises, he surfaces a break in consistency that prompts reflection.
Rather than attack, the framing quietly invites the audience to notice what doesn’t line up.
Takeaway for Communicators
Dry version:
This bill reallocates tax burdens in ways that may reduce support for social services.
Framed version:
Millions of families lose their coverage and kids go hungry—so billionaires get a tax cut. That’s not what Trump promised.
When you want your audience to think critically, contrast paired with inconsistency is a subtle but effective way to frame your point.

--- 
## Page: FRAME FINDING 015 THE DEFICIT CURVE GOALPOST

Frame Finding #015: The “Deficit Curve” Goalpost
            
Spotted in:
 NPR Interview
Topic:
 Trump’s spending bill
Frame Used:
 Goal Framing + Contrast
“The goal should have been: how do we bend the deficit curve down rather than allow it to skyrocket? This bill allows it to skyrocket. It doesn't really make a dent in that reality and that's unfortunate.”
— Sen. Ron Johnson, 
NPR
What This Frame Does
Establishes a Clear Goal:
 Sets a clear, measurable north star—reduce the deficit.
Uses Contrast to Reject the Bill:
 Frames the bill as doing the opposite—accelerating the problem.
Imposes a Judgment:
 By measuring the bill against the stated goal, it fails without needing personal attacks or emotional appeals.
Why It Works
Contrast:
 “Bend down” vs. “skyrocket” makes the failure vivid.
Consistency:
 He presents a consistent standard, then shows the bill breaks it.
Framing Through Outcome:
 He doesn’t nitpick the details—he zooms out to the big picture result.
Takeaway for Communicators
Dry:
“I’m not voting for it because it increases spending.”
Framed:
“The goal should be to bend the deficit down. This bill does the opposite—it sends it skyrocketing.”
By starting with a 
goal
 and then applying 
contrast
, Johnson makes the bill fail on its own terms. He doesn't need to rant. He just reroutes the conversation back to a shared ideal—and lets the frame do the work.

--- 
## Page: FRAME FINDING 017

Frame Finding #017: The “At What Cost?” Frame
            
Spotted in:
 
NPR’s Morning Edition
Topic:
 Trump’s Tariff Plan and Economic Policy
Frame Used:
 Negative Frame + Metaphor + Distributional Cost Shift
“Steve, you've described one piece of the puzzle. The CBO said this Trump tariff regime, which is essentially a sales tax, is going to raise a lot of revenue. And that raising of revenue will do three things. It will reduce the deficit. It will raise costs on everyday Americans… and it will also shrink the economy.”
 — Senator Tim Kaine, 
NPR’s Morning Edition
, June 6, 2025
What This Frame Does
Applies a negative frame
 to a seemingly positive outcome (deficit reduction), emphasizing hidden consequences.
Uses metaphor
 (“one piece of the puzzle”) to imply oversimplification and missing context.
Reveals a cost shift
: frames the deficit reduction as coming at the expense of working-class Americans.
Why It Works
Clarity through contrast
: Transforms a neutral claim into a value-laden one by showing tradeoffs.
Metaphor of the puzzle
 suggests incomplete reasoning—listeners are missing the full picture.
Economic complexity
 adds resistance to oversimplified political messaging.
Takeaway for Communicators
 Dry: “The Trump tariff plan reduces the deficit, raises consumer costs, and slows economic growth.”
 Framed: “Sure, it reduces the deficit—but that's only one piece to the puzzle because it also shrinks the economy and squeezes everyday Americans. Is that worth it?”

--- 
## Page: FRAME FINDING 018 HES TRYING TO DE ESCALATE

Frame Finding #018: “He’s Trying to De-Escalate”
            
Spotted in:
 
NBC’s Meet the Press
Topic:
 Trump Administration’s Deployment of National Guard to Los Angeles
Frame Used:
 Law & Order Reframe + Threat Amplification + Emotional Contrast
What’s Happening
The Trump administration has taken control of the California National Guard, deploying 2,000 federal troops to Los Angeles. The official reason: to maintain public order during escalating unrest.
But California Governor Gavin Newsom sees something very different. In a widely shared tweet, he warned that the deployment was not only unnecessary—it was dangerous.
🧵 
View the tweet
:
“The federal government is moving to take over the California National Guard and deploy 2,000 soldiers. That move is purposefully inflammatory and will only escalate tensions... This is the wrong mission and will erode public trust.”
How the Senator Responded
Senator James Lankford appeared on 
Meet the Press
 and defended the Trump administration’s move with a strikingly different frame: this wasn’t escalation. It was de-escalation.
“Yeah. I think what President Trump’s trying to do is pretty clear. He’s trying to de-escalate tensions that are there. We’re watching burning cars and people waving American flags at local law enforcement, concrete blocks being thrown at federal law enforcement. We watched this kind of scene five, six years ago when there was a takeover in the Northwest—around Seattle and Portland.”
Watch the interview
What This Frame Does
Reframes escalation as prevention
 – Lankford flips the meaning of troop deployment: from provocation to protection.
Creates urgency
 – By invoking past chaos in Portland and Seattle, he implies that without swift intervention, LA is next.
Uses vivid imagery
 – “Burning cars.” “Concrete blocks.” “Takeover.” These aren’t policy terms—they’re alarm bells.
Framing Equation:
“You say escalation → I say de-escalation
+ If we do it your way → cities burn (we’ve seen it before)”
This is a classic two-part move:
1. Reverse the charge.
2. Show the consequence if the other side gets their way.
Why It Works
Contrast framing
 – Newsom’s calm, controlled message is overshadowed by Lankford’s imagery of crisis and collapse.
Threat amplification
 – He raises the stakes, moving the conversation from abstract policy to survival of order.
Historical reference
 – By referencing past failures of local control, he makes federal action feel justified, even necessary.
Takeaway for Communicators
When facing criticism that your action is too aggressive, reframe it as restraint. Show what happens if the other frame wins. Recast force as the thing preventing chaos, not causing it.
Dry version:
Senator Lankford believes the National Guard deployment is a justified response to unrest.
Framed version:
“We’ve seen this before—burning cars, attacks on law enforcement, cities overrun. That’s why Trump is sending the Guard—to de-escalate before it’s too late.”

--- 
## Page: FRAME FINDING 021 FROM DEFENSIVENESS TO DISCIPLINE

Frame Finding #021: From Defensiveness to Discipline
            
Spotted in:
 WSJ Interview with Apple’s Craig Federighi and Greg Joswiak
Topic:
 Siri delays and Apple Intelligence rollout
Frame Used:
 Quality Reframe + Scope Deflection + Strategic Patience
“Only 4% of last year’s event was about Siri… The rest shipped. We had a working version—it just didn’t meet our quality bar.”
—Craig Federighi, WWDC 2025 WSJ Interview
Watch on YouTube
A Weak Opening Frame
Apple stumbled early in the interview. Their first instinct was to defend the delay with an awkward breakdown:
“We spent about eight minutes on Siri. We shipped four of those minutes.”
Instead of leading with purpose, they focused on splitting hairs about airtime. It sounded reactive. Not like Apple.
They also tried to position the missed Siri update as a small slice of a larger success:
“Only 4% of the event was about what we didn’t ship.”
But that approach 
minimized emotional expectations
 without reestablishing trust.
The Stronger Frame: Discipline + Vision
Later, they pivoted—and reframed brilliantly.
Cast AI as a 
multi-decade transformation
Positioned themselves as 
patient visionaries
Described Apple Intelligence as 
integrated and invisible
, not just another chatbot
“There’s no need to rush out with the wrong features just to be first. We ultimately want to build the right products for our customers.”
“AI is like the internet… I don’t think anyone was saying, 'Gosh, Apple, I use amazon.com—why don’t you have one of those?' It was a wave that empowered many companies, and Apple helped make it accessible. That’s how we see AI: not as a chatbot, but as a deep, integrated wave that transforms everything.”
This second phase of the interview reasserted control, moving from apologetic to authoritative.
Why It Works:
Turns delay into discipline
 (“We won’t ship until it’s right”)
Reclaims trust
 by framing restraint as a strength
Defines success on Apple’s terms
, not the market’s
The framing only works because Apple eventually stops defending the past—and starts casting a future.
Takeaway for Communicators:
Defensiveness weakens authority. It makes even the most principled decisions feel like excuses. 
In the early moments of Apple’s interview, their justifications sounded small—focused on minute breakdowns of time and percentages. 
It made them look reactive and unprepared. But when they reframed the conversation around long-term transformation and quality, the tone shifted. 
They no longer looked caught off guard—they looked visionary. 
The takeaway
: when you're defensive, you’re answering to someone else’s framing. When you're visionary, you're creating your own.
A Better Response
Question:
 Last year you announced a smarter AI-driven Siri. Where is she?
Answer:
 You’re right—we said we’d have some features that aren’t here yet. And to our customers and investors: thank you for your patience. But I don’t think the right question is “Where is the AI enhanced Siri?” The better question is: “Should we rush a generative AI Siri if it’s not the best it can be?”
AI is going to affect all of us for decades. We’ve been using the new Siri internally, and frankly, it’s not at the level we need it to be. That’s why we’re not rushing it out the door. We’re building the foundation for how intelligence will work on personal devices for the next 10 to 20 years. That foundation has to be solid—because once it’s out, it shapes everything.

--- 
## Page: FRAME FINDING 022 THE WE LEAD THE WAVE FRAME

Frame Finding #022: The “We Lead the Wave” Frame
            
Spotted in:
 
CNBC Interview
 with Accenture CEO Julie Sweet
 
Topic:
 How AI affects Accenture’s business model
 
Frame Used:
 
Contrast
 + 
Technology Wave Analogy
Scenario:
AI poses a double-edged sword for service firms: it could empower their offerings—or replace them. When CNBC asked Accenture CEO Julie Sweet whether AI threatens their consulting model, she didn’t deny the disruption. Instead, she reframed the moment as proof of Accenture’s ability to grow 
because
 of change.
“We see AI as a massive opportunity. 
If you go back to November 2022 when ChatGPT burst onto the scene, we had about 30 people globally working on GenAI, mostly in R&D.
In the first six months, we did $300 million of sales.
 In the last six months, we did $2.6 billion in sales.
 A massive change in just 2.5 years.
We went from 30 employees to over 500,000 trained in the fundamentals, 270,000 deeper, and 1,100 clients today and growing.
Just like prior technology waves, things change—and we are the ones who lead companies to the change.”
What This Frame Does
Highlights explosive acceleration:
 $300M → $2.6B creates instant contrast
Frames scale as proof of adaptability:
 30 → 500,000 trained shows readiness at speed
Normalizes disruption:
 Calls AI one of many waves they’ve already mastered
Positions the company as the guide, not the disrupted
Why It Works
The revenue contrast is undeniable:
 From $300M to $2.6B in GenAI sales isn’t adaptation—it’s domination
Data proves readiness:
 It’s not a vision—it’s reality
Familiarity reduces fear:
 Comparing AI to past waves reassures stakeholders
Takeaway for Communicators
When your audience sees disruption, 
show them the inflection point
. Let the numbers frame the shift—and position yourself as the one who already crossed the threshold.
Dry version:
AI could disrupt traditional consulting—but also create new revenue streams.
Framed version:
 In six months, GenAI went from $300M to $2.6B in revenue for Accenture. This isn’t a disruption—it’s the next wave. And just like before, Accenture isn’t catching up. We’re already leading.

--- 
## Page: FRAME FINDING 023 THE NO SEAT BELTS ANALOGY

Frame Finding #023: The "No Seat Belts" Analogy
            
Spotted in:
 NBC News Interview with Former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy
Source:
 
YouTube – NBC News Interview
Topic:
 Social media regulation and child safety
Frame Used:
 Analogy + Contrast
"Basically it's equivalent of putting our kids in cars with no seat belts, with no airbags, and having them drive on roads with no speed limits and no traffic lights."
What This Frame Does:
Creates a vivid, physical analogy to illustrate invisible digital risks
Contrasts accepted safety norms with a lack of online safeguards
Amplifies urgency by showing the moral absurdity of inaction
Why It Works:
Links social media to universally understood physical danger
Reframes a tech issue as a child protection issue
Combines emotional appeal with logical structure
Instead of saying, “Social media is unregulated and risky,” say:
“Letting kids use social media today is like putting them in a car with no seat belt, no airbags, and no traffic laws.”
This is an analogy for danger—it’s a judgment on the current contrast between regulated and unregulated systems. By invoking children and car crashes, the speaker forces the audience to reassess complacency around tech policy.

--- 
## Page: FRAME FINDING 024 THE JUST PART OF THE PROCESS FRAME

Frame Finding #024: The “Just Part of the Process” Frame
            
Spotted in:
 Interview with Phillip Swagel, Congressional Budget Office Director
Source:
 
CNBC’s Squawk Box
Topic:
 Criticism of the CBO’s latest report and baseline assumptions
Quote:
“None of this is a surprise… This is just part of the process by which legislation is made.”
“The baseline that we use is set by statute… If members of Congress want a different baseline, we can do that.”
“There is a little bit of a strange thing being criticized for following the law.”
What This Frame Does
Does Phillip Swagel know he’s playing into 
normalcy bias
?
Rather than treating the criticism as a challenge to credibility or institutional norms, Swagel reframes it as expected, procedural—even dull:
This isn’t unusual—it’s how legislation works.
The CBO isn’t making decisions—it’s following statute.
Controversy is part of the job.
This framing invites the audience to remain calm and disengaged. It draws on a psychological tendency known as 
normalcy bias
—the mental shortcut that leads people to assume things will continue as they always have, even when warning signs suggest otherwise.
Normalcy bias
 is the tendency for people to underestimate both the possibility of a disaster and its potential impact, believing that things will continue to function normally—even in the face of disruption.
  — 
Behavioral Scientist
While this bias is most often discussed in the context of disasters, the same psychological dynamic echoes through Swagel’s remarks. By anchoring his comments in law—“set by statute,” “following the law”—he strengthens the impression that this is not only normal, but institutionalized.
Then comes the line:
“There is a little bit of a strange thing being criticized for following the law.”
This line carries more weight because he has just told the audience what is normal and what is expected. It subtly introduces contrast—but without pushing too hard. His tone remains neutral. The line could have hit harder if he had focused on it more directly, but perhaps that wasn’t the goal. He may not have wanted to signal criticism—just mild confusion.
It’s a clever rhetorical move: normalize first, then plant a seed of doubt.

--- 
## Page: FRAME FINDING 025

Frame Finding #025: The “Analogy is Contrast” Insight
            
Spotted in:
 Dozens of public statements, metaphors, and media interviews
We think analogies explain.
 But what they really do is 
reposition our thinking through 
contrast
.
An 
analogy
 works because two 
different
 things are 
similar in a meaningful way
 and that 
gap
 between them forces reevaluation.
A good analogy:
Yanks the conversation
 into a more emotionally charged context
Juxtaposes values
 from one domain onto another (e.g. safety, freedom, urgency)
Changes the stakes
 by implying you’ve misunderstood the risk, responsibility, or intent
Why It Works
Contrast is one of the most powerful framing moves.
 It’s how we make meaning by noticing what something 
isn’t
.
Analogies reframe stakes.
 They pull something abstract into a visceral frame (like danger, health, or injustice), making it hit harder.
They trigger reconsideration.
 The moment you hear, “It’s like...,” you’re being invited to see the issue in a new light.
Takeaway for Communicators
If you’re explaining something, an analogy can help.
But if you’re 
reframing
 something, especially to challenge assumptions, you’re using 
contrast
, whether you realize it or not.
And that contrast is where the power is.

--- 
## Page: FRAME FINDING 026 QUESTION SHIFT OZ

Frame Finding #026: The Question Shift Frame
            
Spotted in:
 
Meet the Press Now (NBC News Now)
Topic:
 Health Policy / ACA Subsidies
Frame Used:
 Question Shift Frame
“So the question really isn’t should we put more money into it, or how much more, continue these COVID-era subsidies — it’s how do we actually restructure the system so it works?”
— Dr. Mehmet Oz, 
Meet the Press Now
What This Frame Does
Rejects the premise of a narrow policy question and reframes it as a structural one.
Moves the discussion from 
quantity of funding
 to 
quality of design
.
Positions the speaker as pragmatic and solution-focused rather than partisan.
Why It Works
The interviewer’s question assumes the debate is about 
how much
 money to spend. Oz reframes it to ask 
why the system isn’t working
.
That shift allows him to sidestep the politically loaded question of extending subsidies while appearing constructive.
It establishes control of the narrative: instead of reacting to the interviewer’s frame, he defines the new one.
This kind of reframing works because it transforms a potentially defensive exchange into a forward-looking one. The shift from “should we continue” to “how do we fix” changes the energy of the conversation from justification to innovation.
Takeaway for Communicators
When you’re asked a question that boxes you into yes/no or more/less territory, you can use a 
Question Shift Frame
 to move the debate to higher ground. Acknowledge the premise, then introduce a new one that reframes the problem:
“The real question isn’t [old frame] — it’s [new frame].”
“Instead of asking how much we spend, ask whether the system works.”
“The issue isn’t how big the budget is — it’s how well it performs.”
By redefining what’s being asked, you redefine what’s worth answering.

--- 
## Page: FRAME FINDING 028

Frame Finding #028: The "None-Answer Answer" Moral Pivot
            
Spotted in:
 Meet the Press (NBC)
Topic:
 Food assistance, health care tax credits, and political leverage
Frame Used:
 The “None-Answer Answer” (Moral Reframing Pivot)
“For me, this was a moral issue. I think about the taxi driver in Arizona who has cancer…”
— Rep. Ro Khanna, 
Meet the Press interview
What This Frame Does
The interviewer’s real question is simple and dangerous: 
How long were you willing to let people suffer?
 Khanna never answers that. Instead, he runs a tight sequence:
Pre-frame: Honor the ally to defuse intra-party conflict.
He opens by praising Senator Kaine’s service and judgment. That clears out any “Dem vs. Dem” drama before he pivots.
Reframe the lens: Call it a moral issue, not a tactical one.
He declares this as a moral moment, shifting the conversation from “how the fight ends” to “what kind of people we choose to be.”
Social proof + contrast instead of abstraction.
Rather than saying “premiums will rise,” he talks about a taxi driver with cancer whose costs explode, using sharp before/after numbers to create emotional shock.
Emotional spike: a son fearing a ‘death sentence.’
The story escalates from policy to life-or-death urgency via the son confronting him at an airport. It becomes a scene, not a statistic.
Introduce the missed off-ramp.
He points to specific, reasonable options—temporary extensions, eligibility negotiations—that could have provided relief but weren’t pursued.
Shift responsibility elsewhere.
The frame ends with: “We were ready; others didn’t come to the table.” Responsibility for inaction is moved away from him and his faction.
By the time he’s done, the audience is no longer thinking in terms of a timeline. They’re thinking in terms of
who cared, who tried, and who failed a moral test
.
Why It Works
      
It swaps a trap question for a value question.
The original frame forces him to admit some level of tolerated suffering. The moral frame lets him talk about compassion and responsibility instead.
It uses story structure where a direct answer would just incriminate.
A factual, on-the-nose answer (“X days” or “until Y happened”) becomes an admission. A story about a family facing financial ruin becomes a justification.
It fits the constraints of live TV.
In a timed segment, there isn’t enough runway for multiple sharp follow-ups. If he fills his limited window with narrative and moral framing, the original question quietly dies.
The genius of this frame is that it sounds responsive and empathetic,
while structurally never touching the dangerous part of the question:
“how long would you have let this go on?”
Takeaway for Communicators
This is the kind of frame that matters in leadership, not just politics.
Any leader can get hit with a version of this question:
“How long were you willing to let this problem exist?”
The dry, literal answer might sound like:
“We were still negotiating, and we hoped to reach an agreement quickly while minimizing disruption.”
Khanna’s framed answer sounds more like:
“This was a moral moment. Real families were facing life-changing costs. There were workable options on the table, and the failure to act wasn’t ours.”
One answer lives in procedure and timelines.
The other lives in 
values, human stakes, and misplaced responsibility
.
Practical takeaway:
When you’re asked a trap question that forces you to admit tolerance for harm, don’t start with the timeline.
Start with the 
moral frame
: who is affected and what’s at stake for them.
Show that reasonable options existed, and clarify 
who chose not to take them
.
In a timed setting—media interview, board Q&A, or high-stakes town hall—you often don’t have three follow-ups to clarify your position.
A well-executed “none-answer answer” like this one is how you survive the question and still come out looking principled.

--- 
## Page: FRAME FINDING 16

Frame Finding #016: The Drunk Teenager Analogy
            
Spotted in:
 
Forbes Breaking News (YouTube)
Topic:
 U.S. National Debt and Congressional Spending
Frame Used:
 Analogy + Attribute Frame
“Congress is like a bunch of drunk teenagers… they’re not very good with fiscal restraint… it’s like giving a teenager a credit card, and when they max it out, you raise the limit.”
 — Sen. Rand Paul, 
May 5, 2025
This quote appeared in an 
interview on Forbes Breaking News
.
What This Frame Does
Uses a relatable and humorous analogy to simplify a complex fiscal issue
Shifts the focus from abstract debt policy to emotional frustration with irresponsibility
Frames Congress with attributes of recklessness, immaturity, and lack of control
Why It Works
Analogy makes it vivid:
 Most people can picture a teenager misusing a credit card, making the debt issue feel personal and real.
Attribute framing:
 “Drunk teenagers” attaches clear negative traits to Congress—lack of restraint, impulsivity, immaturity.
Undermines trust:
 The emotional metaphor reduces Congress’s credibility on fiscal policy without needing detailed data.
Paul doesn’t argue numbers—he reframes the issue as behavioral dysfunction. That reframing lands with audiences already frustrated by government spending.
Takeaway for Communicators
Dry version:
 Congress continues to raise the debt ceiling without curbing spending.
Framed version:
 Giving Congress more borrowing power is like giving a drunk teenager a bigger credit card limit.
When your audience is already skeptical or frustrated, an emotional analogy can crystallize your point and make your message stick.

--- 
## Page: FRAME FINDING 19

Frame Finding #019: The ‘Consensus Contrast’ Frame
            
Spotted in:
 Gov. Gavin Newsom’s speech, 
Democracy at a Crossroads
Topic:
 Federal immigration raids and California’s response
Frame Used:
 Contrast + Consensus + Emotional Evidence
“But instead of focusing on undocumented immigrants with serious criminal records and people with final deportation orders, a strategy both parties have long supported, this administration is pushing mass deportations, indiscriminately targeting hardworking immigrant families, regardless of their roots or risk.
What’s happening right now is very different than anything we’ve seen before. On Saturday morning, when federal agents jumped out of an unmarked van near a Home Depot parking lot, they began grabbing people. A deliberate targeting of a heavily Latino suburb. A similar scene also played out when a clothing company was raided downtown.
In other actions, a U.S. citizen, nine months pregnant, was arrested; a 4-year-old girl, taken; families separated; friends, quite literally, disappearing.”
— Gov. Gavin Newsom, 
Democracy at a Crossroads
, June 2025
What This Frame Does
Uses Contrast:
 Newsom contrasts the previously accepted focus on serious criminals with the current broad targeting of families.
Uses Consensus:
 He references a long-standing bipartisan agreement on immigration enforcement, highlighting how the current approach breaks from that norm.
Uses Emotional Evidence:
 By sharing vivid examples—like the arrest of a pregnant woman and the detention of a 4-year-old—he brings abstract policy down to the human level.
Why This Frame Works
People trust established norms.
 Referencing bipartisan consensus signals stability and reason. Breaking from that triggers alarm.
Contrast is sticky.
 Framing a “then vs. now” makes the message more memorable and heightens the sense of urgency.
Emotion makes it real.
 Specific, human stories cut through data overload and stick with the audience.
Applying This Frame to Your Communication
Use the 
Contrast + Consensus + Vivid Facts
 structure when you want to:
Highlight a shift away from a respected standard
Expose new risks by contrasting them with prior norms
Make abstract or technical change feel tangible through human or real-world examples
Example: AI Search Communication
Background:
 Traditionally, companies could rank on Google by writing well-targeted keyword content. But that playbook is shifting fast.
Shows Contrast:
We used to rank by targeting keywords. Now, AI chatbots and search engines answer many of those questions directly—and they highlight content based on reputation, semantic depth, and genuine usefulness.
Shows Consensus/Authority:
For years, Google set the rules: keywords, backlinks, technical structure. We all played by them. That era is ending.
Provides Vivid Examples:
Declines in organic traffic despite high-quality content
Increase in branded search and review signals influencing visibility
Fewer conversions from top-of-funnel blog posts as AI absorbs those queries

--- 
## Page: FRAME FINDING 20

Frame Finding #020: Red Herring in the Chaos
            
Spotted in:
 
Face the Nation interview with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem
Topic:
 Federal intervention during California protests
Frame Used:
 Red Herring + Emotional Evidence + Authority Attack
Reporter: “The Governor doesn't want the federalized system here. He says he's got it under control. There's no shortage of law enforcement. Gavin Newsome said he's called in California Highway Patrol. He says the Trump administration is seeking a spectacle here. He's saying to protesters: "Don't get violent, don't engage."
Secretary of Homeland Security: “Well, if he was doing his job then people wouldn’t have gotten hurt the last couple of days. We wouldn’t have officers with a shattered wrist from bricks being thrown through their vehicles—vehicles being burned, flags being burned in the street, and Molotov cocktails being thrown. Governor Newsom has proven that he makes bad decisions. The president knows that, and that’s why he chose the safety of this community over waiting for Governor Newsom to get some sanity.”
— DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, June 2025, Fox News
This quote appeared in a 
Fox News short segment
.
What This Frame Does
Red Herring:
 It sidesteps the central question—whether there is a shortage of law enforcement—and instead fixates on dramatic incidents.
Emotional Evidence:
 References to shattered wrists, burned flags, and Molotov cocktails stir outrage and fear.
Authority Attack:
 Shifts blame entirely onto Governor Newsom, framing him as irrational and irresponsible.
Why It Works
It bypasses a factual debate and leads with emotionally vivid imagery.
It personalizes blame, turning a policy critique into a judgment of character.
It justifies federal action by portraying the alternative (waiting on the governor) as dangerous and irrational.
Rather than address the operational question—“Is there enough law enforcement?”—this response reframes the conversation around moral failure and chaos, making opposition appear reckless.
Takeaway for Communicators
Dry version:
 “There is currently not adequate law enforcement presence.”
Framed version:
 “If he was doing his job, we wouldn’t have officers with shattered wrists and cars in flames.”
Red herrings often work because they emotionally hijack the conversation. The communicator abandons the original line of questioning and introduces a new one. Recognizing this lets you either (1) call it out, or (2) refocus the discussion with specific data or contrast frames of your own.
Final Note
The other thing to consider here is that Kristi Noem is really stating facts. She’s not lying. Those incidents really did happen. But the original question of whether there is enough law enforcement is never directly addressed.
This blog isn’t designed to decide who’s right—Governor Newsom or the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security. It’s designed to observe how arguments are framed, and how different rhetorical choices shape the way we perceive an issue.

--- 
## Page: FRAME NOW

Frame Now
            
Start Framing, Transform Your Message Now.
		
					
									Start Now >

--- 
## Page: FRAME YOUR INFLUENCE PROGRAM

Frame Your Influence Program
            
[vc_row css=".vc_custom_1597949996953{padding-top: 25px !important;padding-bottom: 25px !important;background-color: #e2e2e2 !important;}"][vc_column width="1/6"][/vc_column][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1597783855577{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;background-color: rgba(35,35,35,0.87) !important;*background-color: rgb(35,35,35) !important;}"]
Specially Designed For Managers, Data Scientists, Engineers and Experts:
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Build an 
INFLUENCE PLAN
 That Will Get Your 
IDEA, PROJECT OR PROGRAM 
Approved With 
Less Than 3 Hours of Work
.
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WARNING: 
SIMPLE FRAMEWORKS IS NOT A WORKSHOP
♦ It’s NOT a mentoring circle.
♦ It’s NOT a tedious eBook
♦ It’s NOT hours of videos
.
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
It is a proven framework that’s worked at one of the top technology companies in the world!
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]What if influencing someone else was as easy as following a proven sequence of questions and brainstorms without the hassle of facing a blank page? What if all you had to do was follow a framework and... BOOM… you had a clear message and a plan to influence others?
This is what Simple Frameworks can do for you!
It’s a set of questions that you answer to discover messages that will persuade your audience to act. The questions are based on psychological elements of persuasion in social science and practical experience.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/6"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=".vc_custom_1597784635343{background-color: #e2e2e2 !important;}"][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2" css=".vc_custom_1597786237984{margin-top: -25px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;}"][vc_column_text]
[Who am I to Offer Simple Frameworks]
When I first started working in my career, I interned at a business strategy firm. 
Someone asked me to make a flyer for one of our clients. It was awful. It didn’t stick. My managers said the messages I was sending were confusing.
♦ I didn’t know how to find clarity
♦ I didn’t know how to write.
♦ I didn’t know what a key message was.
I was embarrassed. 
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Afterwards, I promised myself that I would learn to create messages that changed people’s behavior. 
I eventually ended up at AT&T working in corporate America as an internal communication consultant.
I started consulting anyone who would let me. Soon, I had so many people coming to me I needed to come up with a process to find clarity quickly. 
The messages were working.
In 2014, six years ago, I left the certainty of Corporate America to be a lone consultant. 
It was the scariest thing I’ve done.
 	
I had zero clients. 
 	
The little money I had saved was evaporating. 
 	
And my runway was ending. 
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
THEN I GOT A CHANCE.
It was someone I worked with before. 
She was about to get fired from her job. 
They gave her the lowest rating possible in her performance review...  
which is a death sentence in corporate America. 
The weird thing, she had the results to show that she was a badass. 
But someone didn’t like her. 
We collaborated on the phone and created a key message. 
We built a simple plan of attack.
We reversed her performance review. 
Simple Frameworks was born.
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
I began taking my framework to small business in Dallas and then back to corporate America. 
I traveled across the country to teach corporate workshops. 
I taught at one of the biggest technology companies in the world.
People started changing how they communicated. 
They started influencing others inside their organization. 
Some people even used my method to help others outside of work. 
 
And you know what?
It’s so simple. Anyone can go through my framework… 
And when they come out… they are able to influence others and be seen as an achiever. A leader. A force.
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This is the 
POWER of SIMPLE FRAMEWORKS
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Influence is Like Building.
Follow a simple frame and you enjoy the results.
 
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=".vc_custom_1597793402152{background-color: #face5f !important;}"][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2" css=".vc_custom_1597786237984{margin-top: -25px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;}"][vc_column_text]
You’ve got to start with a solid foundation of clear, concise communication. 
Something that doesn’t cause confusion when spoken, but affirms and confirms others trust… not their skepticism. Then you need to build a structurally sound framework to hold your argument. 
Introducing
3-Step Influence Plan System
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Introducing a Simple Framework to influence others with trust and clarity.
It’s the same with communication and influence.
Don’t worry even if you haven’t tried to use influence skills before.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
For ALL Managers, Data Scientists, Engineers and Experts w
ho Feel Stuck and:
 	
are not confident in communicating 
 	
can’t express the value in what they’re communicating
 	
don’t understand their expertise or how it relates to what they are doing 
 	
cannot understand how to express ideas with impact
 	
cannot get others to how you have impacted the business
 	
cannot get others to see how your research, insight, idea, better metrics –– will improve products and service
 	
can’t get others to see how your expertise and action will provide value
I have a message for you... a message I wish I could’ve given myself 10 years ago:
If you feel that being a beginner at communication and influence is your disadvantage… Turn it into your advantage and...
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1597949856620{border-top-width: 5px !important;border-right-width: 5px !important;border-bottom-width: 5px !important;border-left-width: 5px !important;padding-right: 8px !important;padding-left: 8px !important;background-color: rgba(4,164,216,0.11) !important;*background-color: rgb(4,164,216) !important;border-left-color: #04a4d8 !important;border-left-style: dashed !important;border-right-color: #04a4d8 !important;border-right-style: dashed !important;border-top-color: #04a4d8 !important;border-top-style: dashed !important;border-bottom-color: #04a4d8 !important;border-bottom-style: dashed !important;border-radius: 2px !important;}"]
Get a Guide
Use the SIMPLE FRAMEWORK to build an influence plan in under two hours.
Use the Tutorials and Brainstorms to Get Your Plan to Influence others.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width="stretch_row" css=".vc_custom_1597976562519{background-color: rgba(35,35,35,0.87) !important;*background-color: rgb(35,35,35) !important;}"][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text]
Inside Your SIMPLE FRAMEWORKS
Is EVERYTHING You Need
to get others to adopt your ideas
 
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Part #1
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Designing a Foundation of Communications 
Often when communicating we don’t know what makes an influential message. Because of this, when we speak people are sometimes confused. Sometimes they even react negatively because they simply do not understand.
Following our Simple Framework is so easy and takes so little time and at the end you will have clarity and a plan to begin influencing your colleagues at the office or a board of directors.
You might be thinking, “There is now way I can create a plan to influence others in under two hours.”
Thanks to our Simple Framework, we have become efficient at asking the right questions that spur the right thoughts to get you the clarity you need.
Don’t worry even if you haven’t tried to use influence skills before.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/4"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/2" css=".vc_custom_1597962355885{border-top-width: 6px !important;border-right-width: 6px !important;border-bottom-width: 6px !important;border-left-width: 6px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;border-left-color: #face5f !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #face5f !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #face5f !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #face5f !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;}"][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1597962222353{padding-top: 15px !important;padding-bottom: 15px !important;background-color: #face5f !important;}"]
Part #2
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Building the Frame of Your Message
Sometimes when we speak it is hard for others to understand what we are really trying to say. It’s hard for people to “get it” and be willing to accept what you have to say on face value. 
Framing a message gives you the ability to put an invisible box around your message. It causes the listener to only be able to hear your message from an influential context. The frame helps your listener understand your context. 
Take my analogy that building an influence plan is like building a building or skyscraper. This is a frame and helps you build understanding. 
You might be thinking, “You’re just going to teach me what I learned in grade school and that is going to work?”
Simple Frameworks is going to teach you the basics of building a message and how you can apply persuasion sciences to your work! 
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Part #3
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Persuasion Points
Have you ever felt obligated to say yes to someone, especially a sales person? Chances are they were using invisible means to get you to say yes. These are social triggers and shortcuts that we have developed over thousands of years to help us quickly make a decision. 
Guess what? People are using those at your work on you. And you don’t even know. 
Use the power of the social sciences to help naturally persuade your audience. Get your ideas accepted.
You might say: Oh but this is unethical and slimy. 
I say to you: We are helping them more quickly see the value in your idea… without the confusion, the scepticism and uncertainty. Really, we are doing them a favor and serving them by putting the work in on the front end. 
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Part #4
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Your Influence Plan
At the end you will have an Influence Plan built by our Simple Framework. 
It will tell you who you need to communicate to, how you are going to communicate to them and what you need to say. 
This same plan has worked in some of the biggest companies in the world. I know it can work for you, too.
 
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REMEMBER:
SIMPLE FRAMEWORKS IS NOT A WORKSHOP
What if Simple Frameworks could give you a strategic plan to communicate your idea in the most influential way possible? 
This is what Simple Frameworks can do for you!
It gives you an influence plan in under two hours. It forces you to communicate clearly and use scientifically proven mechanisms that persuade your audience. 
It’s NOT a mentoring circle.
It’s NOT a tedious eBook
It’s NOT hours of videos.
It is a shortcut on being influential!
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=".vc_custom_1597793402152{background-color: #face5f !important;}"][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2" css=".vc_custom_1598026047418{margin-top: -25px !important;border-top-width: 9px !important;border-right-width: 9px !important;border-bottom-width: 9px !important;border-left-width: 9px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;border-left-color: #e5443c !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #e5443c !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #e5443c !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #e5443c !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;}"][vc_column_text]
Here’s EVERYTHING You Need 
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BUILD an Influence Plan with our Simple Framework 
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Create a Communication Strategy and Influence Plan 
 	
Tutorial: How to Answer Foundation Communication Questions
 	
Tutorial: WIIFM Brainstorm
 	
Tutorial: Audience Framing Brainstorms
 	
Tutorial: Persuasion Points Brainstorms
 	
Tutorial: Influence Tactics
 	
Tutorial: Delivering Your Message
 	
Tutorial: Fill out your Influence Plan
 	
Bonus #1: Steps to Avoid Jargon in Your Communication
 	
Bonus #2: Lesson on staying on message
Total Value: $900
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PLEASE BEWARE
Simple Frameworks is NOT for everyone:
 
 	
It’s 
NOT
 for sales people because it’s not a sales program. 
 	
It’s 
NOT
 for people who do not have high results of their work. 
 	
It’s 
NOT
 for people who lack expertise in a subject.
 	
It’s 
NOT
 for people who are NOT willing to put in the work. 
 	
It’s 
NOT
 for people who are underachievers. 
 	
It’s 
NOT
 for people who do not have something to influence others on.
The Good News is 
It's SPECIALLY designed for
 
Managers, Data Scientists, Engineers and Experts: 
It works perfectly for:
 	
Engineers who own a company and need help influencing colleagues, business partners or employees. 
 	
Managers in Learning and Development
 	
Managers in a technology company or organization
 	
Data scientists who want to suggest an experiment
 	
Anyone working in Analytics
 	
HR professionals
 	
Overachievers perceived as underachievers
"Hi, My name is Jimmy Epperson and I was a communication consultant who 
did not know
 how to write messages that could change people’s behavior."
If you are like me then we have two things in common:
1. I didn’t know the fundamental elements that make sound communication. 
I am so grateful that through hard work and necessity I have created a process that has helped thousands of people in corporate America. 
2. I always felt like I was a used car salesman when sharing my ideas
 
 (no offense used car salesmen)
But I know how important influencing is. Without the skills to communicate effectively and influence others, your career cannot progress. So I had no choice. I had to learn it.
I clearly remember how intimidating it was to share my ideas, without knowing what to say or who to talk to. I don’t want you to experience endless hours of facing a blank page or a blank whiteboard.
I felt HORRIBLE and OVERWHELMED
 during those moments. 
That was...
THE REASON Why I created the Simple Frameworks Influence Plan.
I don't want you to feel Horrible, Overwhelmed, and Frustrated. 
Thanks to the Simple Frameworks ...
 
You NEVER EVER have to think, “OMG, What am I going to say? How am I going to say it? What am I even supposed to say to get this headcount approved.” 
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Claim Your Seat TODAY
And Get These BONUSES
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Bonus #1
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Avoid Jargon in Your Communication
Jargon creates more confusion and overwork than almost anything else in business. A leader uses a word — and does not know the exact word they are looking for – and confuses others in the process. 
Follow this simple process to stop jargon. Don’t confuse people. Be a servant leader who takes the time to clearly articulate what they want others to do.
 
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Bonus #2
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
How to Stay on Message
Sometimes we get distracted and we can get off message. When we ramble we can confuse people, say things we don’t mean to say and surprise people with faulty information. 
All of this makes it more difficult to influence someone. 
We analyze an actual interview with Sean Spicer, the former press secretary for President Trump. We learn from the masters of spin. 
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Inside Your Build Your Influence Program
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Here’s EVERYTHING You Need 
to 
BUILD an Influence Plan with our Simple Framework 
in just under 
three hours
:
 
 
Create a Communication Strategy and Influence Plan 
 	
Tutorial: How to Answer Foundation Communication Questions
 	
Tutorial: WIIFM Brainstorm
 	
Tutorial: Audience Framing Brainstorms
 	
Tutorial: Persuasion Points Brainstorms
 	
Tutorial: Influence Tactics
 	
Tutorial: Delivering Your Message
 	
Tutorial: Fill out your Influence Plan
 	
Bonus #1: Steps to Avoid Jargon in Your Communication
 	
Bonus #2: Lesson on staying on message
Total Value: $900
$45 Today!
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## Page: FRAMING FINDING 27 CORPRATE GOBBLEDYGOOK

Frame Finding #027: The “Corporate Gobbledygook” Frame
            
Spotted in: 
CNBC’s Mad Money
Topic: Corporate mergers and positioning
Frame Used: Corporate Gobbledygook Frame
Quote:
“This may be the second most important day in our company’s history. Of course, Founder’s Day is the most important, but this is really about two great iconic American companies joining forces to create what we think is the preeminent global health and wellness leader.”
What This Frame Does
Uses big words to say very little. “Preeminent global health and wellness leader” sounds powerful until you try to picture what it means. Substitutes clarity with noise. The language suggests importance but never defines it. Covers a simple idea with grandeur. The reality: Kimberly-Clark is expanding its portfolio to include more baby and skincare products. That’s straightforward. The phrasing makes it sound like a revolution.
Why It Doesn’t Work
It’s vague. No one knows what a “preeminent global health and wellness leader” actually is — or how you measure it. It confuses the audience. Investors hear ambition, but not the business case. It wastes a clear story. The company is doing something understandable — expanding trusted brands — but buries it under filler.
Takeaway for Communicators
When clarity is possible, choose it.
You don’t need to sound big. You need to sound real.
Corporate Gobbledygook version:
“We’re creating the preeminent global health and wellness leader.”
Clear version:
“We’re bringing together some of the world’s most trusted brands in baby care, skincare, and over-the-counter health — with a combined brand value of $XX billion.”
That line tells you what’s happening, what it includes, and why it matters — no translation required.

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## Page: FUNDAMENTALS LESSON

Fundamentals Lesson

--- 
## Page: GET STARTED

Get Started
            
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ADDRESS
2425 N Central Expy #700,
Richardson, TX 75080
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PHONE
(972) 544-5574
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EMAIL
contactus@clearpointsmessaging.com
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Start Learning Now
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Click the button below and answer the basic questions that make trustworthy communication. It's the Fundamentals of Communication section from our training.
We will send you tips to improve your communication based on how you answer these questions.
Start the Fundamentals Section Now
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## Page: HOW CAN YOU DEVELOP THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

How Can You Develop Thought Leadership?
            
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Thought leadership -- a term marketers use to position people inside their companies as experts to influence a specific audience -- has been picking up momentum.
According to a 
2019 study by LinkedIn and Edelman
, thought leadership is more powerful than people think. Some CEOs have even started to vet companies and determine if they should do business based on their thought-leadership content.
"B2B marketers and salespeople significantly underestimate the impact of thought leadership on demand generation and sales efforts compared to actual feedback from B2B buyers," the study states.
Crayton Webb, 
Sunwest Communications
 owner and CEO, said that even though the idea of thought leadership can be hard to sell to someone who doesn’t understand it, the benefits are quite amazing.
Take the guy who sells wooden hangers as an example. The Hanger Project teaches people all over the world how to tie proper knots on dress shoes and gives viewers other fashion advice.
Originally he started by merely selling wooden hangers for suits. And soon he became a thought leader. He has more than 500,000 YouTube views a month.
What is Thought Leadership?
Thought Leadership positions individuals and brands as experts on causes, in industries, with services and products and then influences a specific audience with their knowledge and expertise. The experts become leaders because of the unique knowledge they share that can influence everything from legislative policies to common consumers.
When a leader shares his or her expertise or knowledge with others, it “transcends the marketing paradigm,” Webb said at an 
IACB Dallas
 luncheon March 19. The leader is sharing information you can’t get anywhere else.
“You're enhancing the credibility of your (personal) brand or the reputation of the brand you represent,” he said.
Webb warned that a thought leadership campaign can’t be one and done. It’s also not a marketing play. It takes a long time to see results.
When you do start seeing results from your campaign, customers will perceive your brand more positively.
3 Main Types of Thought Leadership
Thought Leadership for Causes
Webb, a former vice president at Mary Kay Inc., helped lead a global campaign to bring awareness about domestic violence for the brand. Mary Kay wanted to be known for their stance on domestic violence. They launched a multifaceted, multi-year campaign that brings awareness and even lobbies to stop and prevent domestic violence.
Mary Kay's program highlights includes:
 	
Domestic Violence Shelter Grant Program
s, over $50 million donated to domestic violence shelters by The Foundation since 2000
 	
1 million “Makeovers for Good” around the world
 event
 	
Mary Kay and their independent sales force educated lawmakers is several states about crucial counseling, education and prevention programs, and the importance of state support for these life-saving services on Legislative Action Day.
 	
Don't Look Away campaign
May Kay has spent millions for many years to position themselves as thought leaders on stopping domestic violence.
When companies can link their corporate social responsibility teams to marketing it can have significant results, Webb said.
Thought Leadership in an Industry
Seth
 Godin is considered the godfather of today’s marketing. He has written 17 books. He leads the Alt MBA, a modern-day MBA program. He's always on the cutting edge of marketing and owns the area of expertise.
He publishes one blog post per day. With his millions of followers who feel like they know him personally, he can influence all of them to purchase, buy or act in a certain way. His point of view counts.
Seth Godin owns the marketing industry space. The ability to change people’s actions through your words is where every marketer, business owner and executive wishes they were. And this is exactly the space where Godin sits.
Godin is among one of the true thought leaders of our time.
Thought Leadership in a Niche
The Hanger Project
 is a great example. Kirby Allison started by selling a new wooden hanger that was designed to protect and extend the life of clothing.
His niche started in garment care for men. He began posting videos on the best way to take care of luxury clothing.
Although the fabric wash and care market is a billion industry, Kirby Allison was only interested in a small niche of the garment care industry. He became a thought leader in the luxury goods market.
He found his niche and started helping common people dress better with YouTube videos.
Thought Leadership and Messaging
Webb said there are several fundamental questions you need to ask to figure out what thought leadership position you should take:
 	
How should you standout?
 	
How do you do something that sustains your story in an authentic way?
 	
Who is important to you?
 	
Who is your audience? Where is your audience?
However, before a business goes out and starts making videos, a small business owner or expert needs to ask basic communication questions.
"Like any 
strategic messaging or influence campaign
, you need to start at the basic building blocks of sharing a message with someone else," said Jimmy Epperson, 
Clear Points Messaging LLC
 owner and communication consultant.
Key questions are:
 	
What do I want to be a thought leader in? What is the general topic?
 	
How can my thoughts give my audience the advantage and how will they benefit?
 	
Why and how is my position unique and different?
How Long Does Thought Leadership Strategy Take to Work?
Do you know how long it takes to be an overnight success? Years. The same is true for a thought leader who is recognized, listened to and can influence a group of people.
A thought leadership marketing strategy doesn’t happen over night. It takes a lot of time and dedication and resources.
For an expert or brand to create thought leadership strategy that works, they contributed a lot of time and money. Or, as Seth Godin would say, you made something great.
Another question you might ask your team or yourself is, “Do you have the time and dedication to constantly share information that helps others and how are you yourself making an impact?"
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## Page: HOW LISTENING SKILLS AND LEADERSHIP WORK TOGETHER

How Listening Skills and Leadership Work Together
            
People spend up to 80% of their days communicating, and over 50% of that time is dedicated to listening.
However, the average listener only remembers around 25% of what was said.
If you're in a leadership role, one way to be effective is by being a good listener. Being a good listener is far from passive. Effective listening skills require a physical and mental focus on whoever is speaking.
Do you want to learn more about why listening skills and 
leadership communication
 go hand in hand? Keep reading to learn all about how to master your active listening skills!
How to Improve Listening Skills
Good listening skills don't come naturally to everyone. Throughout early education, there is a lot of focus on reading and writing, but little gets extended to the significance of active listening.
With the right listening skills, any individual can become more confident and influential. Plus, reflective listening skills help to improve relationships both in one's professional life and one's personal life. Let's take a look at some excellent tips to improve listening skills.
Think of Listening as a Muscle
Just like the muscles in our bodies, listening is a skill that must be nurtured and exercised. You must practice being an excellent listener, and the more you practice, the better you'll become.
The key is to perceive listening as more than just hearing what someone is saying. You have to hear, process, and understand the delivery of the message you hear.
Bring an authentic desire to your conversations, your meetings, and your interactions. Whether you're interested or not, become interested and exhibit that authenticity.
Listen With Your Body Through Active Listening
Have you ever had to present to a room full of people, many of whom are on their phones, eating, or distracted in some other way? Nothing is more frustrated or confidence-wrecking than feeling as though others have no interest in what you have to say.
What about those times in your past when, while you spoke to someone, they looked at their watch? When our audience isn't listening, we can tell, no matter how good they think they are at faking it.
Practice active listening by focusing your sole attention on the speaker. Put your phone down, stop clicking your pen, and stop snacking. Nod your head and use open body language.
Choose to listen with your entire body. Lean in, sit up straight, do whatever it takes to show that you're engaged, and process what you're hearing.
Ask Questions
There's a leadership concept called "Respectful Inquiry." What is says is that by asking open questions and listening attentively, good leaders become powerful leaders. 
The model
 satisfies basic human needs for relatedness, autonomy, and competence.
If you're asking questions, you most likely hear the message. Ask open questions to demonstrate your desire to both engage and communicate. Show your interest by asking questions that demonstrate a strong desire to learn more.
Stay away from closed questions that can be answered with a "yes" or "no" as these leave little opportunity to engage further.
Make Eye Contact
Body language plays a huge role in active listening skills. There's a balance too. You wouldn't want to stare at your speaker the entire time, or they'd eventually become uncomfortable.
Hold their gaze, though, and make eye contact. In doing so, you'll communicate to them that you're interested, focused, and understanding.
Take a moment to analyze the speaker like you would an audience. If they don't demonstrate excellent eye contact skills and seem nervous, you can still hold their gaze, but don't do it too much. Likewise, if they're a speaker who demands attention and presence, you can give them a lot of focus through eye contact.
Open up Your Posture
Pay close attention to the way you sit or stand when you're listening. Doing things like tapping your feet, folding your arms, or biting your lip can indicate impatience or disinterest.
When you keep an open posture, only using soft movements, you're telling the person speaking that you are interested and eager to learn what they have to say.
Paraphrase When It Makes Sense
One of the most effective listening skills is summarizing what someone has said.
For example, say your coworker breaks down the next steps for a particular project. Take a moment when they finish to paraphrase, so they're confident you heard and understood what they said.
Maybe you go home after a long day of work, and your partner begins to complain about their day. Even though you're exhausted, the best thing you can do for the relationship is to listen. Acknowledge that you heard and processed what they're going through by paraphrasing.
You could follow up on the first example by asking what potential bumps or changes you might encounter and how you'll handle them. For the second example, you might try asking your partner how they feel or what they think they should do about the situation.
Paraphrasing is an excellent way to ensure there aren't misunderstandings down the road, too.
People Who Listen Have More Influence and Empathy
The more effectively one listens, the more knowledge they acquire. Active listening reveals many things about a speaker pertaining to their objectives, knowledge, beliefs, fears, and attitudes.
The more people feel you listen in the workplace, the more they'll respect your position. The more people respect you as a professional, the more influence you'll have.
Empathic listening can bridge two people or a room full of people together. Empathic listening demonstrates a genuine effort to understand and hear another person's perspective. When you listen with empathy, your coworkers will feel safer, more comfortable, and be able to speak more freely and clearly.
Plus, you'll gain influence, respect, and understanding as a leader.
Listening Skills and Leadership Go Hand In Hand
When someone demonstrates good listening skills and leadership, there's no telling what they can accomplish. Active listening not only helps you understand and see whoever is speaking, but it also helps you gain their trust and respect.
Asking open questions, engaging, and paraphrasing will ensure you don't hit more bumps or misunderstandings down the road.
When you use good listening skills like eye contact and body language to hear and process what you're listening to, you'll set yourself up for success in your relationships and through your professional workload.
Would you like to improve your listening skills and gain more influence? 
Leadership communication
 skills can help you develop and master effective listening skills in all aspects of your life.
Get started by taking our 
free communicator quiz
 to find out what kind of communicator you are. Do you want to learn more about how we can help? 
Contact us
 with any concerns!

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## Page: HOW POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE FRAMES SHAPE YOUR MESSAGE

How Positive and Negative Frames Shape Your Message
            
How Positive and Negative Frames Shape Your Message
Positive and negative frames are woven into nearly every type of communication we encounter.
And they are the backbone of how messages influence perception and drive action. 
Let's face it, 
communication is hard
. Understanding how to leverage these frames is can make it easier to communicate and influence others.
What Is Message Framing (and Why It Matters)?
Message framing is the strategic presentation of information to influence perception, judgment, and behavior.
It is rooted in cognitive psychology and plays a role in everything from advertising to healthcare, politics, and personal communication. 
The most common types are:
Gain/Loss (Message) Framing: Emphasizing potential benefits or risks.
Attribute Framing: Highlighting positive or negative aspects of a single characteristic.
Goal Framing: Focusing on the consequences of action or inaction.
Framing
 is a cognitive lever that taps into human biases and decision-making heuristics.
In addition to the cognitive and emotional impact of frames, it's important to understand their performative function, what a frame does to the audience.
A message is not only a container of content, but an act that creates a certain emotional and psychological state.
A well-framed message can reassure, empower, warn, or even alienate, depending on the linguistic and contextual cues embedded within it.
Communicators must consider both the informational and performative outcomes of a message to ensure it aligns with the intended effect.
Positive Framing: More Than Just Benefits
Positive framing encompasses more than simply listing benefits. It’s about highlighting strengths, positive attributes, and opportunities that shape a constructive and engaging narrative.
For example, describing ground beef as "92% lean" emphasizes its positive attribute rather than its fat content.
This approach builds a narrative of abundance, quality, and optimism, which can resonate deeply with audiences.
Key Aspects of Positive Framing:
Attributes: Emphasizes the strengths or positive qualities of a product, service, or idea.
Opportunities: Highlights the potential gains, future possibilities, and what the audience stands to achieve.
Optimism: Creates a hopeful and motivating outlook that encourages engagement and positive action.
When crafting a message, it's essential to consider both a topic's positive and negative aspects and the performative effects it creates.
The performative aspect refers to what the language does or creates for the listener.
Even a well-intentioned positive message can inadvertently create anxiety if not framed carefully.
For instance, a message like "Need to get a yearly health check-up?
These check-ups can help spot any health issue you might not even know that you have," while positive in intent, could instill fear.
Reframing it to "Routine medical examinations can help alleviate anxiety about potential health concerns and provide reassurance about your overall well-being" shifts the focus to proactive care and positive outcomes.
Scientific studies show that positive framing is effective in: 
Advertising: Increasing purchase intent among promotion-focused consumers.
Health Communication: Encouraging prevention behaviors like physical activity or sunscreen use.
Vaccine Messaging: Reducing anxiety by minimizing focus on side effects (though not universally effective).
Negative Framing: Leveraging Our Natural Bias
Our brains are inherently attuned to negative information, a phenomenon known as negativity bias.
This evolutionary adaptation helped early humans survive threats.
In modern contexts, this bias means negative aspects often overshadow positive ones, influencing decisions and perspectives more intensely.
This makes negative framing a powerful tool when used appropriately.
Negative framing is especially effective in:
 
Public Service Announcements (PSAs): Highlighting risks of behaviors like smoking.
Urgent Calls to Action: Prompting action in the face of serious consequences.
Hedonic Product Marketing: Increasing urgency or emotional weight.
However, negative framing can also trigger anxiety and fear.
Research during the COVID-19 pandemic showed that loss-framed health messages increased anxiety without necessarily improving compliance. The key is balance—negative framing must inform, not just alarm.
Real-World Examples of Framing
Politics: A politician promises hope and change, while the opponent warns of chaos and uncertainty.
Healthcare: "90% survival rate" vs. "10% mortality rate" — both true, but perceived differently.
Marketing: "Don't miss out" (loss frame) vs. "Join thousands of happy customers" (gain frame).
When to Use Positive vs. Negative Framing
Context
Best Frame
Reason
Prevention behaviors
Positive
Focus on benefits to motivate long-term health
Detection behaviors
Mixed
Requires nuance; may involve potential negative discoveries
Urgent risks
Negative
Creates a sense of seriousness and urgency
Brand trust
Positive
Builds warmth and long-term loyalty
Hedonic products
Negative
Triggers emotional salience
Promotion-focused individuals
Positive
Aligns with desire for success and achievement
Prevention-focused individuals
Negative
Emphasizes avoiding harm or failure
What the Science Says: Psychological Models of Framing
Prospect Theory (Kahneman & Tversky): People are more sensitive to losses than to gains. Loss framing can create stronger emotional responses.
Goal Framing Theory: The perceived consequences of inaction vs. action can drive behavior differently.
Attribute Framing: The way a single quality is described can change overall evaluation (e.g., 80% lean vs. 20% fat).
Applicability & Accessibility: Framing affects what considerations come to mind when processing information.
Individual Differences: Why Framing Isn't One-Size-Fits-All
Framing effects are moderated by traits such as:
Regulatory Focus: Promotion vs. prevention motivation
Need for Cognition: High cognition individuals may rely less on framing
Prior Knowledge: Reduces susceptibility to superficial cues
Self-Efficacy: Confidence in action makes positive frames more effective
Age: Older adults may show greater consistency in responses to negative frames
Ethical Use of Framing
Framing is powerful—and that power can be misused. Ethical communicators must:
Use transparency and honesty
Avoid distorting facts or overusing fear appeals
Frame messages inclusively, especially when invoking values
Respect audience autonomy by providing complete and fair information
Use Framing With Intention
Framing is not just a writing technique—it’s a tool for shaping perception and guiding decisions.
Used ethically, positive and negative frames can help communicators:
Clarify complex information
Inspire meaningful action
Build trust with their audience
The goal isn’t to trick or coerce—it’s to align message tone with truth, context, and audience mindset.
So the next time you craft a message, pause and ask: "How am I framing this? And is it the most effective, ethical choice for my audience?"
 
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Sources and Further Reading
Kahneman, D., & Tversky, A.
 (1979). 
Prospect Theory: An Analysis of Decision under Risk
. Econometrica, 47(2), 263–291.
https://doi.org/10.2307/1914185
Block, L. G., & Keller, P. A.
 (1995). 
When to Accentuate the Negative: The Effects of Perceived Efficacy and Message Framing on Intentions to Perform a Health-Related Behavior
. Journal of Marketing Research, 32(2), 192–203.
https://www.jstor.org/stable/3152047
Steiger, A., & Kühberger, A.
 (2018). 
A Meta-Analytic Re-Appraisal of the Framing Effect
. Zeitschrift für Psychologie, 226(1), 45–55.
https://doi.org/10.1027/2151-2604/a000320
Bender, F. L., Rief, W., Brück, J., & Wilhelm, M.
 (2023). 
Effects of a Video-Based Positive Side-Effect Information Framing: An Online Experiment
. Health Psychology, 42(8), 593–602.
https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0001263
Stanulewicz-Buckley, N., & Cartwright, E.
 (2024). 
Persuasiveness of Public Health Communication During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Message Framing, Threat Appraisal, and Source Credibility Effects
. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 22(1), 30.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22010030
O’Keefe, D. J., & Jensen, J. D.
 (2007). 
The Relative Persuasiveness of Gain-Framed and Loss-Framed Messages for Encouraging Disease Prevention Behaviors: A Meta-Analytic Review
. Journal of Health Communication, 12(7), 623–644.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10810730701615198

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## Page: HOW TO LOSE YOUR AUDIENCE WHEN PUBLIC SPEAKING

How to Talk to an Audience When Public Speaking
            
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3 Tips on How to Talk to an Audience 
If you have ever seen someone who doesn't know how to talk to an audience, then you know how important this skill is for success in public speaking.
Here's the scenario.
You’re listening to a speaker who is on a roll. He or she hooked and engaged the audience. People want to listen to the speaker about the topic.
Then the speaker says: “Today I'd like to cover the three critical things that we need to do to accomplish our goal.”
Alright! The audience is bought in! The speaker rarely has their attention, but today the speaker does. Let’s get it!
“BUT FIRST I'd like to go back to something I talked about two weeks ago."
Whoa!
The audience is left thinking: “I was looking forward to the three things...and then you gave me a head-fake.”
All message discipline was just lost. The audience just checked out. They won’t be back.
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How to Talk to an Audience: 3 Reasons Why You Lose Their Attention
1) We hunt for information
Humans follow information like a hound follows a scent. When the information is dried up or not available, they go look for the scent somewhere else or lose interest.
"Information scent is made of cues that people use to decide whether a path is interesting," says scientist Dr. Ed Chi. “Evolutionarily, the optimization strategies that are innate in each one of us in looking for food in the natural environment occur extremely often in just about everything that we do.” (
Taken From Wired, HOT ON THE SCENT OF INFORMATION
)
The same evolutionary principles can be applied to speeches. If we are on a scent to learn what we can do to fix a problem the speaker identifies, and the scent is lost, the listener is left confused and taken off the scent.
Information scent was first realized when scientist Chi was researching how people search on the web. For example, let’s say you create a Facebook ad with a picture and a value proposition. The ad directs your prospects to a landing page selling a product. If the landing page does not correlate to the Facebook ad with the same image or message, prospects stay away. The information they are looking for is lost.
The same is true when presenting to an audience.
Remember above when our imaginary speaker said this? “Today I'd like to cover the three things that we need to do to accomplish our goal.”
Then the speaker changes the subject. In that case, the audience loses the scent and the subject becomes uninteresting.
2) People’s attention spans suck
The last and most valuable of resources is human attention. -Tim Wu, Columbia Law Professor
 
They say that the average attention span is down from 12 seconds in the year 2000 to eight seconds now. That is less than the nine-second attention span of your average goldfish.
Although these stats are common and actually challenged in this 
BBC article
, it’s no secret that we are distracted almost always.
When you have an audience’s attention it is a big deal. A huge congratulations should be in order. Marketers spend millions just to get you to pay attention.
And the reason is that there is so much competition for your attention and we are so distracted with so many devices.
So when a speaker has the attention of a room, that speaker should do everything he or she can to keep it.
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3) People want the new, unique stuff… 
You just made that critical thing you were so passionate about… unimportant. If it was so important, why did you talk about something that happened two weeks ago?
That is so old and yesterday.
You were setting up the audience on how important what you were about to say was, then you didn’t even talk about it.
Your audience assumes it’s not as important or interesting as you said because you just treated it as such. Then they checkout.
Your audience are like news freaks. They want to hear the newest, cutting edge things about your company, not the stuff that was hot two weeks ago.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1596988103862{padding-top: 35px !important;padding-bottom: 35px !important;}"]
How to Talk to an Audience to Keep Their Attention
Once you have the audience hooked, it's much easier to keep them interested. In the example above, our noble speaker simply did not stay on topic. Here's three things to consider to help you stay on topic and develop 
strategic messages
.
1) Message Discipline
Often when people communicate, they don't sit down and ask, "what's the one topic I want to talk about?" Instead they cherry-pick from many topics and try to shove it all in a speech. They treat it like an a la carte menu.
Don't do this. Stay on topic. Don’t waffle and waver from one subject to the next, your audience can’t handle it. What do you want your audience to learn about? Pick one topic and stick with it.
2) Audience Recommendation (Call to action)
What do you want your audience to do? In the example in the beginning of this article, we had a speaker who hooked the audience. The speaker was talking about one goal, and three things people could to to accomplish it. But then he switched it to something that was less news worthy.
Just like the topic, pick one call to action. Don't mix and match.
3) Keep it Simple
Do everyone a favor and remember that people just don't have the attention span to stay focused. We are bombarded by messages everyday. Don't believe me? Just listen to the news or simply drive on an interstate or major highway and look at the billboards. It's important to keep your message simple so people can get onboard more easily and understand it more quickly.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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## Page: INDIVIDUAL COACHING PACKAGES

Individual Coaching Packages
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## Page: JARGON

3 Rules that Remove Business Jargon
            
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I worked with a friend who had a tough time communicating his ideas.
He described the first step in building software as a “wireframe.” I asked him what he meant.
“You don’t know what a wireframe is?”
“No, I don’t,” I said.
“Seriously! Everyone knows what a wireframe is.”
We debated if wireframe is well-known. I finally asked him what it was and he said, “It’s how you want your app to look on the screen. What do you want to see on the screen? Can’t believe you don’t know that.”
About a week later we went to a client’s office. He started telling the client that we needed to get his wireframe together.
The client stopped him and said, “Wait. Stop. First I need to know… what’s a wireframe?”
My friend looked at me as if saying, “I hate that you are right.”
The root cause of this poor communication is because my friend used jargon.
 
Funny Examples of Business Jargon
I started playing around with Rivier University's 
Business Jargon Generator
.
It's hilarious.
Here are some entries:
 	
conveniently create strategic deliverables
 	
proactively network visionary services
 	
compellingly grow efficient web-readiness
 	
interactively exploit enterprise e-services
 	
holistically transform strategic customer service
 	
uniquely engage interdependent initiatives
Wow! Those are awesome. And none of them really say anything!
Sadly, people actually communicate this way in businesses across the country. Some people even explain their products and services like this to their customers!
 
What is Business Jargon?
Business jargon is one of the most prevalent problems in corporate America and small businesses. Jargon leaves employees and customers confused. It limits people’s understanding of whatever topic is being discussed. When someone uses jargon, their message is not precise.
Business jargon is when someone uses specialized words or vocabulary in speech or writing that is only known to a specific group, department or industry. The language is unclear and not precise. Jargon is associated with larger words that are not specific or have very much meaning. When someone communicates using jargon, the person receiving the message cannot fully comprehend the meaning or action needed to take because the words are ambiguous and vague.
How to Stop Using Business Jargon
The best way to stop using jargon is to stop using words that other people do not understand. With every word you speak or write, you need to communicate it at a sixth-grade level. Here’s why.
Reason #1: You're an English Master
Not everyone has command of the English language like you. Some people speak English as their second or third language. Why do you have such high expectations for others?
I debated this in corporate America. One guy said, “We have doctoral degrees, why do we need to stoop so low?”
This is not only arrogant but also disrespectful to your audience.
Reason #2: Differences Maintained
Words also have different meanings in different fields of business. The more specialized someone is… the more this person will speak a different language from common English.
So, don’t use words that are only used in a specialized field. Would your grandmother or a sixth grader understand all the words you are using?
If not… don’t use them.
Reason #3: Easy on the Brain
It’s just easier for everyone to understand simple words. Period. End of story.
It’s critical that we use the most common language among us.
Do you know what pretense means? Avant-garde? Hamartia? Precipice?
Even if you know these, I bet you had to pause for a second to understand. You had to do work to translate the meaning.
We don’t want people working when we are trying to influence them. Instead, we want people to truly hear why we are unique and different. They will never hear a value proposition if it ain’t clear.
 
3 Rules to Remove Business Jargon from Your Communication
So here are some rules when creating a message for your customers.
Rule #1: Stop the Big Words
Do not string big sophisticated words together. My friend told me about his new project. He calls it a “Patient Management Relationship System.”
It sounds important.
But it’s merely a service that sends automatic emails to a patient on behalf of a doctor.
Which one do you understand immediately?
Rule #2: Pick Your Words Carefully
Don’t use words just because it’s ingrained in your culture or circle of friends.
When I worked in corporate America, they used ridiculous words all the time: operationalize, strategic imperatives, and innovate.
I often heard my boss—or my boss’s boss’s boss’s boss—say things like, “We need to operationalize this innovative strategic imperative.”
Operationalize? Imperative? This sounds important! I’d get stuck because I didn’t know how to operationalize anything…  I didn’t even know what an imperative was.
But then I realized their meaning: “Do this new assignment.”
Which one is easier to understand?
Rule #3: Don't Try to Be Smart
Don’t try to sound smart. One executive I consulted wanted to launch a new business product.
He went rogue and was trying to cram it up the chain of command. He came to me because he knew he needed a good message. It was a platform— another corporate-speak word— that helped sales managers at the company.
He said something like, “Employees will have a discovery process of key information and cognitively discern rationally for the customers.”
He was doing his best to sound smart. But what in the world did he even mean!?!
What he meant was, “Think.” Employees will be able to THINK and make better decisions based on the information they now have because of the new ‘thingamajigger’ he’s making.
Which one is easier to understand?
I told my friend who was making the thingamajigger’ that we needed to “dumb it down,” which is actually inaccurate. It was pretty dumb how he said it. What we need to do is make it succinct. And that’s more difficult than it sounds.
Review:
Use normal words everyone can understand. Not everyone understands English like you do. Don’t use words the common person—like your grandma—will not understand.
Don’t string a bunch of words together to sound smart.
A Simple Exercise
If you find yourself using words your grandma would not understand… simply do what I did with my friend who said he’s working on a “Patient Management Relationship System.”
Ask yourself, “What do I mean by that?”
Keep asking this simple question until you can no longer simplify your point. It might take three or four times to get it stripped down to its core meaning.
So just keep asking, “What do I mean?”
Then the ultimate test is the grandma test. Can your 80-year-old grandma understand your statement? If not, you have work to do.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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## Page: KEY MESSAGES FOR BUSINESS OR PERSONAL GROWTH

Be Influential by Developing Key Messages
            
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Developing Key Messages is Critical For Business
 	
Developing key messages keeps you confident
 	
Key messages naturally make you more influential
 	
Professionals use key messages to shape public opinion and to reduce confusion
 
When I interned at the Oklahoma State Capitol during college I learned a lesson on developing key messages for the rest of my life.
As an intern I licked envelopes. Literally. People actually did that for a living. And I was one of them.
While I licked my 798th envelope for the summer, I had befriended a lobbyist who was about to teach me one of the biggest lessons of my career. And it would set me on an obsessive path to figure out how to deliver key messages to an audience.
The Lesson on Messaging
The lobbyist was a head lobbyist for a large utility. He was pushing a bill that unregulated his company so they could start selling high-speed internet.
I took a break from my duty of licking envelopes to watch the vote on the House of Representatives floor. We sat upstairs and watched it pass.
This is where the lesson came into play and where my life would be changed forever. As we walked down the capitol stairs, an old reporter ran up to the lobbyist.
He said: "I need some time with you. Does this mean your company will start charging higher fees for your other services?"
The lobbyist replied: "This is a great step for our state and for the people of Oklahoma."
The reporter tried again. "But are you going to charge higher fees for other services?"
The lobbyist put his hand on the seasoned reporter's shoulder and softly said... almost whispering in his ear... "All I can say is: this is a great day for Oklahoma and Oklahomans. We’re going to be technologically ahead of so many other states."
Then the lobbyist disappeared down the stairs.
I was amazed how he handled the reporter...but there was more to it.
A Campaign on a Message
The lobbyist built an entire campaign around this key message and he believed in his heart that this bill would make Oklahoma better.
He propagated this one message in small towns and with legislators across the state. It became his mission to get Oklahomans better technology.
This is how focused he was. He told me that when any piece of paper came across his desk... He looked at it and determined if it could get him closer to his goal.
If it didn’t get him closer, he would ignore it. If it did he added it to his list.
The only way the lobbyist got this laser focus was by having an insane level of clarity.
He knew what he wanted from his audience – or a call to action – and he knew how to say what he wanted in one statement.
That’s the power of a key message in a public relations campaign.
What is a Key Message?
Your key message is usually a general point about what you’re doing or offering to a specific audience. Then you back this up with secondary and supporting points. Here is a seven step process to make
 key messages
.
It's difficult to create good copy or communicate effectively without a clear message. If you don't know what the most significant point about your topic or the overarching point you want to get across to your audience... eh... how will your audience know the point you want to make?
It's the one point supported by facts, frames and persuasion points that you want your audience to understand after they hear your message. Key Messages are designed to resonate with your audience. When done correctly as part of an overall strategic message plan, key messages can influences and spur your audience into action.
Think of your key message more like a thesis statement. Your key message is usually a general point about what you’re doing or offering to a specific audience. Then you back this up with secondary and supporting points.
----
4 Reasons Why You Should Start Developing Key Messages
Be More Influential
When developing key messages — whether for a public relations event or a communication plan — you’ll become more strategic.
When you develop your key messages correctly, you will be focused on the fundamentals for 
strategic communication
. The fundamentals are things clearly defining your topic, clearly defining who you audience is and what you want people to do after they hear your message.
Once you create your message with these principles, you are automatically more persuasive and influential.
Build Trust
Research states that people look at unclear communication as harmful, deceptive and untrustworthy. We have a psychological shortcut that makes us automatically look at unclear communication with skepticism and danger.
If you are constantly trying to figure out how to communicate your message to someone else, then it is going to cause a lot of people to be skeptical.
Obviously you do not want that because you’d get nothing accomplished. When we speak clearly we automatically start at a place of trust.
Stay Focused
This is very similar to key messages being influential. Because we have focused on the fundamentals of communication in our key message, we know what we want our audience to do. We know what we are trying to accomplish.
Knowing what our mission is with our communication can help us stay focused on the mission.
The mission is to keep the mission... the mission. It’s easier to do this when we clearly can articulate it and clearly understand what we want others to do.
Stay Confident
When you can answer someone’s question is a way that spurs curiosity and understanding, you naturally become confident.
If you are in a position where every time someone asks you a question about your project or idea and you are trying to explain it, then you are in trouble.
Your confidence will also suffer, especially if you know that every time you speak someone might not understand.
If you want to learn to make key messages, you can learn our 
seven steps to create a key message
. 
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## Page: LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATION

Leadership Communication: Why it's Critical for Your Success
            
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Leadership Communication
Leadership Skills that Advance You and Your Organization
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“Leadership is difficult to envision without communication. In short, any goal or common purpose needs to be verbalized, become known, be understood, and be accepted before anyone can act to accomplish it.” — 
Catrin Johansson
When someone is leading a business unit or a team, they are using communication to guide, direct and show others the way.
However, when someone is communicating in a business setting, they only have the opportunity to lead. Leadership is dependent on communication. So dependent in fact, that if a communicator poorly expresses an idea, they forfeit their opportunity to lead others.
Today, 
communication is difficult
.
 As our species has evolved out of the desert, so have the problems we face, making it difficult to express ideas in a simple language that everyone understands.
Leaders who hold authoritative positions in business have more opportunities to communicate and lead. If that leader lacks communication prowess, then they will be petered out of the current position they hold.
For managers and individual contributors however, their communication is even more critical. Rarely are they in positions of authority or in positions where their communication can have impact to transform or change behavior in the business.
Leadership communication is about making those opportunities count and ensuring you do not miss an opportunity to lead when you have the opportunity to influence others.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Why is Leadership Communication So Important?
Leadership Communication is critical for a manager in a new role and just as important for his or her team. Leadership communication is the conduit that creates action, clarifies the team’s mission and gives clear, simple directions on key projects.
Leadership communication persuades team members and cross functional teams to adopt specific recommendations. It builds relationships and helps a leader stay calm and cool under pressure. 
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Let your emotions, the way you communicate, how you listen and the skills you use to persuade others transform your leadership style.
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The 4 Skills You Need for Leadership Communication
Effective leaders need effective communication, listening, persuasion, and emotional intelligence skills. These are four directions on a compass that helps you lead your team or self to greatness. 
Each direction represents a critical component to leading others and helping guide the people who depend on you. Mastering these four skills gives you true poise and true executive presence. 
As a leader, you command and set a path that your team can follow. Without the right leadership characteristics, it will be difficult to get your team to follow you. It will also be difficult to guide them, to see danger, and set the right direction. 
But most importantly, without these skills, it will be almost impossible to stay focused on your objective and get others to change their behavior. These four skills build off of each other. Without one, the rest suffer. 
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Emotional Intelligence
Usually, our emotions drive our actions. The emotions are gasoline, our brain is the engine and our actions are the vehicles. If your emotions are left unchecked, then you will run out of gas, or you will begin making irrational decisions that could jeopardize your career, your job, and your employees’ work. 
Emotional intelligence
 is made up of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationships. 
To get there, we use 
mindfulness
 coupled with spiritual principles.
When we feel fear or resentment, these things can block us from focusing on the work and performing. Even though anxiety is a natural human trait, when it becomes overwhelming, it is difficult to act in the best way that will get you results.
A Leadership Communication Coach should help you tackle your EQ qualities. 
Listening
Although listening falls under communication, it is such a critical leadership trait that it has its own category.
Learning to listen
 makes you more influential. It builds relationships and people like you more. Part of the art of leadership is listening to the people you serve, hearing your employees, and understanding the direction your employees want to go. Listening makes up part of the road of empathy, which is critical for any communication or recommendation or idea to be accepted by others.
Learning to truly listen and ask questions that cut through the clutter is a critical skill to learn.
Effective Communication
If you cannot present an idea in a way that changes people’s behavior, it’s going to be difficult to be a change agent or leader in your organization. 
Effective communication
 is the foundation of any plan to create change in someone or an organization. It has several tools at its disposal:
 	
Framing your Communication
 	
Using a 
Strategic Message
 	
Writing a 
Clear Message
 	
Developing 
Key Messages
Just focusing on the basics of communication can influence someone more than anything else, especially inside an organization. When you can explain your idea or recommendation clearly, it builds trust, reduces skepticism, and helps your listener visualize what needs to change.
The way you frame your message — whether you tell a story or use a metaphor — can only happen after you know precisely what kind of behavior you are trying to change and what you want your communication to do.
Clear communication can determine how much 
your message will influence
 others.
Persuasion Skills
All managers in leadership positions are naturally in a position of power and persuasion. However, not all managers positively persuade those around them.
Without understanding social cues and the traits that people look for to make a sound decision, your ability to create change will suffer. There are 
scientifically proven principles of influence
 that you can follow that help you be more influential.
They have been guiding social interactions since the formation of society, and they are still just as prevalent in the business environment today.
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Let's Get Started Now!
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## Page: MARLINS MANIFESTO

Marlin’s Manifesto
            
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Jimmy Marlin's Manifesto on the Status Quo
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If you’re like me, then you constantly see the status quo… and you don’t like it.
The status quo is the now. It’s how things are done today because they have always been done that way.
Unfortunately there are groups of people who want to protect this status quo. The reason? Because they’re comfortable. They want to keep things how they are and don’t want to change anything.
But guess what? They are wrong. Dead wrong. In this world everything that stays the same will die. It becomes obsolete. It’s not needed anymore.
I don’t know about you, but I despise the status quo. And I will renounce it in the offices of the highest skyscrapers in Dallas if needed.
As a result, some people don’t agree with me. Some ask me to leave their office. And that is okay.
Why? Because there are a few of us who thrive on pushing the limits. Pushing what’s possible. Pushing what is acceptable in business and in life. There are a few of us who BELIEVE so passionately about what we do… we will face death, persecution and humiliation. And that’s whom this manifesto stands for… the person who wants to push towards the horizon and make things better.
In Texas we hear: “If it aint broke don’t fix it.”
Everything to a point is broken if it’s not continuously made better. Anything that stays the same slowly defragments with the inevitable forces of time and tide. That includes products. It includes campaigns. And it includes you and me.
We can see this in the two types of status quo we face daily.
First, we face the status quo that others protect. And if you are like me—you’re disgusted with it. It gets under your skin and crawls and aches the core of your being.
In corporate America, the lovers of the status quo sometimes are officers, vice presidents and their followers. Sometimes it’s a young high-potential manager who thinks she will be CEO one day. In marketing firms and political armies, it’s how things are done to keep the hierarchical structure intact… despite the passion, skill and wisdom of smart people who are in the organization.
The second status quo we face is with our individual selves.
This is that being inside you that thrives on creativity. The person who wants to help others. The person who wants to be a piece of something and lead something fantastic.
This inside being continuously pushes you forward… so hard you have nothing left. It’s that part of you that wants to be successful… and no matter what… you will continue to fight.
However, sometimes our abilities and motivation are stifled. The upper echelons of corporate America, the system, your boss—with their processes and lack of ability to trust—will deflate your appetite to become better. We might give up. We might become just another cog that is easily replaced.
Or… worse… if you’re starting something great… if you have a dream you have not yet pursued, you could be stifling yourself. The fear and the jumbled thoughts of what to do could cause you to pause. To ignore that passionate being inside.
How do we fight this? How do we know what to pursue? Where do we go? Who do we target? Who will benefit from our great idea? How do we get an idea that we are so passionate about and deliver it into existence and change the world? Or change the executive team? Or change our boss?
The only thing that I found to work—to fight the status quo of others and myself—is to have an insane level of clarity.
An insane level of clarity begets a laser focus that no one can sway or stifle.
And if you don’t believe me… Fine. You simply may not be ready to fight the status quo. You might be comfortable with how things are… you might like it. And I am happy for you. You are not wrong.
However, if you’re not comfortable with how things are, you have two options. The first option is that you can give up completely. You can throw your dreams away and become a cog. Or… the better option in my humble opinion is to shatter how things are done—personally and professionally—with a clear, concise goal and a path to get there.
You need to be able to tell others and yourself about your idea so crisply that people understand it immediately. What you say needs to exude influence. It needs to be so persuasive that a leader of your organization or a customer says, “WOW! WE NEED THAT NOW!” or, "WOW! TELL ME MORE!"
This is the true essence of clarity. It’s not just saying something that is well-defined. But saying something in such a way that the right people see the need for it immediately.
I’m not perfect at this. And it is a constant battle to fight the fear-ridden mind that wants to stifle my progress.
“What will others think? What if people think I’m an idiot? What if people dislike my idea and me? And… what if… I fail?”
These rhetorical questions and their slanted answers could be true. They might happen. But they might not.
With an actual plan to communicate your idea, your passion, your dream, your new product or service—you might actually be able to break the barriers of the status quo.
By transforming your jumbled thoughts into something that is insanely clear and influential… you might stand a chance. And this chance… this glimmer of hope… this insane level of clarity is what Clear Points Messaging offers and believes in and stands for.
I hope you'll join me in making things better with clear, influential communication. It's the one thing that cannot be stopped... that shatters the status quo. Let's do something unstoppable together... and make our jobs, our products and our lives better.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width="stretch_row" css=".vc_custom_1597701967648{background-color: #face5f !important;background-position: 0 0 !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;}"][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text]
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Get the Communication Training You Need to Advance Your Career And Grow Your Skills
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## Page: METAPHOR IN COMMUNICATION

Metaphors in Communication: The Risks and Rewards
            
Metaphors are bridges that connect complex ideas with the familiar, making abstract concepts accessible. Metaphors can enrich 
strategic messaging
, but without enough thought, they can also have unintended interpretations.
Metaphors and analogies are a type of 
frame in communications
.
This blog covers three topics: 
A warning about metaphors through an example.
Simple directions on ow to create a good metaphor.
Some examples of metaphors.
		
					
Communicators Love Metaphors
				
		
Just as a king or queen in the Feudalism era held power, influence, and command over their domain, a metaphor reigns supreme in communication.
It sits atop the hierarchy of communication tools that can convey complex ideas simply, and stir emotions in the hearts of its audience.
👆This is an example of a metaphor. Often, metaphors are not completely true, but you can get a major point across from them.
In this case, metaphors are significant in a 
strategic and leadership communication
 toolkit.
Metaphors are more than literary devices; they are essential for clear and effective communication.
By drawing on everyday experiences and observations, you can create metaphors that resonate deeply with your audience, making your messages more memorable and impactful.
		
					
Why Metaphors and Analogies Matter in Framing
				
		
These figures of speech aren’t just creative—they’re cognitive. According to Thibodeau & Boroditsky (2011), the metaphors used to describe issues like crime dramatically affect public responses. In one experiment, framing crime as a 
"beast"
 led people to support punishment and enforcement. But when crime was described as a 
"virus,"
 people preferred social reform and prevention.
Framing takeaway:
 The metaphor shapes which solutions people see as appropriate—even when all other details stay the same.
Analogies, on the other hand, offer clarity through structured comparison. They explain one thing by comparing it to another. For example:
Analogy:
 "The current air traffic system is like a car with faulty brakes."
Metaphor version:
 "The air traffic system is a car with faulty brakes—racing forward, one failure away from disaster."
The metaphor pushes emotional urgency. The analogy explains logic through similarity.
Recent research (Hendricks et al., 2018) also shows that metaphors can shape emotional mindsets. For example, framing cancer as a "battle" increased perceived guilt in patients who did not recover, while framing it as a "journey" encouraged peace and acceptance. Language doesn’t just explain—it influences how people feel and cope.
Metaphor vs. Analogy: What’s the Difference?
Technique
Definition
Example
Metaphor
Direct substitution—says something 
is
 something else
"This system is a house of cards."
Analogy
Explains one idea by comparing it to another
"Running this system is like trying to build a plane while flying it."
Simile
A type of analogy using "like" or "as"
"This process is like herding cats."
In truth, the distinction between metaphors and analogies isn’t always important in practice. Most of the time, you’re choosing between saying something 
is
 versus saying it’s 
like
 something else. Both help make the unfamiliar familiar, and both shape how ideas are understood.
🧠 Want to strengthen your communication skills?
Frame Finding
 is a monthly email that breaks down how powerful people and brands use framing to shape what we think, feel, and do.
 	
One message each month
 	
No fluff—just sharp, usable analysis
 	
Bonus drops when culture shifts
Trusted by communicators, strategists, and anyone who wants to stay sharp.
[ninja_form id=9]
		
					
Dangers of Using Metaphors in Business
				
		
Metaphors are used prominently in social issues and politics. As communicators who work at large businesses and own small businesses, we can learn from it.
If metaphors are not thought through, you can send the wrong message to your audience and have unintended meanings.
Misleading Comparisons: 
Metaphors can simplify complex issues too much, neglecting the human element and the intricacies involved.
Unintended Messages: 
Metaphors may carry a "shadow side" that conveys unintended, sometimes negative connotations.
Exclusive Messaging: 
Taken to their logical end, metaphors can foster exclusivity, sidelining or marginalizing certain groups.
Critical reflection is needed when using metaphors, especially in contexts affecting humans.
Key takeaway:
 Metaphors and analogies often carry performative consequences. They don’t just describe—they imply, they shape, they activate bias. Use the wrong one, and you might send the opposite message of what you intended.
		
					
Gentrification: A Case Study from Ohio
				
		
In his insightful book "Culture, Social Class, and Race in Public Relations: Perspectives and Applications," Damion Waymer offers a compelling analysis of how metaphors influence our understanding of urban renewal efforts. He examines the case of a neighborhood in Ohio grappling with challenges such as poverty, crime, and police brutality—a community at the crossroads of significant social and economic pressures.
City officials described the neighborhood's need for "revitalization" and "salvation," seemingly positive objectives aimed at improving living conditions. However, Waymer identifies a shadow side to this metaphor when using "reviving" or "cleansing."
This metaphor subtly implies that the neighborhood—and, by extension, its residents—must be purged of its "diseased" elements to foster growth and renewal.
The Implications
This metaphor positions the current residents as unintegral stakeholders in the neighborhood's future but as obstacles to its development.
The language of "revival" and "cleansing" suggests prioritizing the physical space—the real estate—over the well-being and inclusion of the people who inhabit it.
Essentially, the metaphor communicates a message that the city's objective is to save the land, not the individuals who call it home.
While the intention behind urban revitalization efforts is often positive, the language employed can inadvertently marginalize those it aims to help, framing them as problems to be solved rather than partners in progress.
		
					
How Do We Make a Good Metaphor?
				
		
The key is to bridge the gap between the familiar and the unfamiliar, making complex ideas more accessible and engaging. Here's a step-by-step approach with examples to help you create metaphors that resonate:
Prompts to Help You Craft Your Metaphor
What is the essence of the concept or issue I'm trying to convey?
What familiar objects, situations, or processes share similarities with this concept?
How can I creatively link these two to shed new light on my concept?
What emotions or actions do I want to evoke in my audience with this metaphor?
		
					
Crafting Your Own Metaphor:
				
		
Framing Templates
Metaphor Template:
 "[Abstract idea] is [familiar thing], because it [shared trait or outcome]."
Analogy Template:
 "[Abstract idea] is like [familiar thing], because just as [familiar situation happens], [similar logic applies to your concept]."
Examples:
Metaphor:
 "Your mind is a garden."
Analogy:
 "Your mind is like a garden—if you don’t weed out negative thoughts, they take over."
Metaphor:
 "Information is light."
Analogy:
 "Information is like a flashlight—it helps you see where you’re going."
Framing Instructions
1. Identify Your Core Concept:
What idea or principle do you want to talk about?
My Example: content for a website
--
Start by pinpointing the idea you want to illuminate. Think in abstract terms rather than literal descriptions to avoid making your metaphor too literal.
Avoid choosing overly literal comparisons. For example, while discussing "innovation," remember it's not a literal seed but can share a seed's growth potential in the right environment.
		
		
2. Find a Relatable Element:
What familiar object or situation could parallel your concept? If you get stuck, start thinking of nouns. 
Example: We will use a tree on a riverbank for this metaphor.
--Look for something familiar to your audience that shares underlying characteristics with your core concept. This element should resonate emotionally or experientially with your audience.
Don't pick a relatable element that's too obscure or complex. The metaphor will lose effectiveness if your audience can't connect immediately.
		
		
3. Brainstorm on characteristics:
From our Example a tree’s characteristics:
Deep roots.
Old
Roots keep the river bank from eroding
Also helps the flow of water
		
		
4. Link the Abstract and the Familiar:
How does your chosen element reflect the nuances of your core concept? 
Just link characteristics together and think of how they can be connected. 
Example from content and tree metaphor: 
Content on a website are the roots on a river bank. It allows traffic to flow in a specific direction.
It also keeps the river bank from eroding, so the water doesn’t lose direction.
You’re content can grow old if it is healthy and also have deep roots.
Not the best but also not the worst.
--
Draw a clear connection between your abstract concept and the chosen familiar element. This is where the magic of metaphor happens, bridging the gap between the complex and the comprehensible.
Resist the temptation to overexplain. The power of a metaphor lies in its ability to convey deep insights succinctly. Over-elaboration can dilute its impact.
		
		
5. Refine for Clarity and Impact:
Can you make your metaphor more vivid or emotionally engaging?
--
Ensure your metaphor is as clear and vivid as possible. A well-crafted metaphor should evoke imagery and emotions that underscore your message.
Avoid mixed metaphors that can confuse the narrative. Stick to one strong, cohesive comparison that carries your idea from start to finish.
		
		
Test Your Metaphor:
Does your metaphor resonate? Would it be clear to your audience?
Evaluate whether your metaphor makes the concept easier to understand. If it doesn't resonate or clarify as intended, consider revising or selecting a different familiar element.
Don't ignore feedback that your metaphor is confusing or misses the mark. A metaphor that doesn't work for your audience fails its primary function.
		
					
Examples of Metaphors and Analogies: See real life examples of metaphors and frames in the news
				
		
Elon Musk's Refereer Metaphor
The Brake Failure Metaphor
Emotional Health Framed Like STEM
Sen. Rand Paul's Drunk Teenager Analogy
		
		
🧠 Want to strengthen your communication skills?
Frame Finding
 is a monthly email that breaks down how powerful people and brands use framing to shape what we think, feel, and do.
 	
One message each month
 	
No fluff—just sharp, usable analysis
 	
Bonus drops when culture shifts
Trusted by communicators, strategists, and anyone who wants to stay sharp.
[ninja_form id=9]
		
		
It's highly recommended that you get started here, with this three-minute exercise. 
		
					
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## Page: ONCE UPON A TIME THE IMPORTANCE OF STORYTELLING IN BUSINESS

Once Upon a Time: The Importance of Storytelling in Business
            
I wish I knew how to make a clear message in college.
When I was a student, I started the College Democrats. I invited every young moderate in Oklahoma to a lobbyist’s house for a political party.
College kids from across the state showed up. Hundreds actually. A US Senator was there. Gubernatorial candidates. Big-time lobbyists. State and city officials.
The other political group for young people was there, too. The Young Democrats. And they hated me. I was trying to single handedly take over the college scene.
And I almost did.
But remember when I said I wish I had a message? I spoke in front of all those people without a single note in front of me.
I literally put zero thought into my speech.
Before I spoke, the President Pro Tempore of the state senate spoke. He was shaking. He had notes.
As I spoke, the room fell silent. With my jumbled thoughts, I had somehow insulted the entire party leadership in the room for not getting more college people involved. I publicly and accidentally blamed the established Young Democrats for this.
That’s not what I wanted to communicate.
  
But it’s what came out of my mouth because I didn’t prepare.
I still feel shame thinking about it... and that was more than 20 years ago.
The point is that you should always prepare and always hone your communication skills, or you might insult the wrong people or say the wrong thing.
And for you, it could be worse. You could do something like this at work and jeopardize your career, instead of a political coup spearheaded by a dimwitted college kid.
--
What I am doing above is telling you a story so you will prepare when you have a presentation or speech that could influence others. If you don't prepare and get the fundamentals down, there is no way you can tell an effective story. (You can do this 
short exercise
 and get started on your message.)
Storytelling in business can be powerful because it can show the consequences that someone might face, like above.
It can make you feel what the author feels, and it is extremely persuasive. Stories make you 
use more of your brain
 and help you retain the lessons and facts you heard.
These days consumers don't want faceless brands. They want 
a human connection
 between themselves and the brands they support.
Why Is Business Storytelling Important?
Since the beginning of time, humans have told stories and recognized the art in storytelling. It's a pivotal method of communication, both historically and on a day-to-day basis.
Stories aren't just about entertaining, though. When implemented effectively, business storytelling can significantly boost a company's worth. Using the best storytelling techniques for business helps solidify a sound marketing strategy, improve customer loyalty, and increase profit.
But what's more, using it as a manager can boost your own credibility and persuade key stakeholders.
Better Connections Through Marketing and Advertising
If you look at any successful brand, the chances are high that their marketing strategy is powerful and consistent. Consumers want to feel connected to the brands they support.
The best way to connect with people is to evoke emotion or by being relatable. In an age where every business uses digital marketing, advertising must be smart. Cheap tactics or inconsistencies will turn potential customers away.
What's your story? Is your business family-owned? Did you overcome hurdles to get where you are today?
Appeal to people by evoking emotion and telling a story they can relate to.
Storytelling Creates a Competitive Advantage
Consumers are exposed to an endless supply of information daily. It's easy for any business to get overlooked or lost in the noise of advertising.
If your product is superior to others like it, it won't matter unless it comes with a story. Consumers want to believe in their purchases. Plus, telling a story will set you apart from your competitors.
Storytelling Leads to Better Business Development
Every business begins with a story. How and why did you come up with the product or service you want to sell?
Use these beginnings to develop your story, so your customers get rich context when considering your product or service. Tell a story of how you were affected by a problem or need, which inspired you to build your brand. Customers identify with real-life situations and are more likely to trust you when they feel they can relate to the same problem or need.
Storytelling Techniques for Business
Not everyone is born with the gift of great storytelling, which is why business storytelling training can help you become a better communicator and grow your business.
Here are some communication tips that can help you brainstorm a story:
Framing
In communication, framing refers to the method you choose to communicate with your audience.
People think in narratives regularly, which is why 
framing through storytelling
 is an excellent means to grab an audience's attention. When the speaker shares, they become relatable and human to potential customers. Trust starts to build, and the brand begins to mean something to those people.
 	
Tell a personal story to communicate your point like I did above.
 	
Use data to paint a picture.
 	
Use a metaphor or simile as a form os a story.
Dialogue and Listening
Business storytelling should always inspire connections between the communicator and the listener. When a representative or business tells a personal story about the company, that story becomes shareable and memorable.
Get your audience involved and use active listening to participate in their responses and opinions.
A good way to use this leadership style is to use dialogue and questions to find a story from customers or colleagues. Ask questions. 
Listen to others
. Open communication, dialogue, and making your listener feel heard will continue to build your influence.
Visioning
There is a term called sensemaking, which is a leadership trait that "
refers to how we structure the unknown so as to be able to act in it.
"
Basically, the leadership theory of sensemaking is a framework to lead. It's best described in Harvard Business Review's article, 
In Praise of the Incomplete Leader
:
"Sensemaking
 (understanding the context in which a company and its people operate), 
relating
 (building relationships within and across organizations), 
visioning
 (creating a compelling picture of the future), and 
inventing
 (developing new ways to achieve the vision)."
Sensemaking enables leaders to build maps of their future so that they can learn from and act on it.
They communicate what to do and when to do it to achieve a goal, even though the company in in an unknown and uncertain environment. When business leaders employ sensemaking into their leadership strategy, they become more relatable to their audience.
Basically, the leader is able to set a vision with an actionable plan to get there. Usually when communicating vision, storytelling accompanies it.
Storytelling in Business Is Essential Today
Storytelling in business is one way to ensure that your product, service or idea stands out from the rest. Without storytelling, customers can't develop emotional connections, trust, and understanding concerning your business.
Without the human factor, you won't be able to build a brand that people revere. Without storytelling, you won't create a competitive advantage for yourself, and you will miss out on potential connections through marketing and advertising.
One of the best ways to become a better storyteller is by developing sound communication and listening skills.
Don't forget to think about how you want to frame your communication, too. What works best for each situation? Would your audience better respond to a metaphor, data, or a great story?
Are you ready to grow your communication and storytelling skills? Schedule 
your discovery call
 today so that we can help your business grow.

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## Page: PRIVACY FOR FITBIT USE

Privacy for Fitbit use
            
Privacy Policy (Personal Fitbit Integration)
Effective date: January 2026
This privacy policy describes how Fitbit data is used for my personal automation (“Personal Morning Report”).
What data is collected
With my permission, this project may access the following data from my Fitbit account:
Steps and activity totals Workouts / exercise sessions (if available) Sleep metrics (if available) Heart-related metrics such as resting heart rate (if available)
How the data is used
This data is used only to generate a personal daily summary for me (for example: whether I met my step goal, whether a workout was logged, and basic sleep totals).
How the data is stored
Data may be processed through my private automation workflow (n8n). Data may be temporarily stored in my own tools (for example Airtable, email logs, or secure environment variables used by my automation). The data is not used for advertising, profiling, or resale.
Data sharing
Fitbit data accessed by this project is not shared with third parties, sold, or distributed to anyone else. The output is sent only to me (for example, via email).
Data retention and deletion
Any stored data is retained only as long as necessary for personal tracking and generating daily summaries. I may delete stored data at any time by deleting it from the tools where it is stored (such as Airtable or my automation logs).
Security
I take reasonable steps to protect my data, including keeping access tokens and credentials private and stored securely.
Contact
If you have questions about this policy, contact: Jim.epperson@gmail.com

--- 
## Page: PRIVACY POLICY

Terms of Service
            
Personal project. No resale. Data used only for my own personal reporting.

--- 
## Page: SIMPLE CALL TO ACTION STATEMENTS CREATE MOMENTUM

Simple Call to Action Statements Create Momentum
            
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
This is my motto: If you're not influencing then you're not communicating.
Want to know the fundamental element that ignites this influence in others?
It's extremely simple.
You just have to ask. Let me explain.
It's the call to action. You need a specific recommendation your audience can follow.
Specifically, you need to ask: What do you want your audience to do?
You need to discover why your audience will benefit from your recommendation.
What is an audience benefit? An audience benefit is something that promotes or enhances wellbeing. It’s something that gives someone an advantage.
A Small Example of a Call to Action at Work
A client needed to write a three-minute speech that introduced a speaker at a Meetup.
It doesn't sound like a big deal. But this Meetup was special. My client was hosting the first Meetup at this company. But my client didn’t think he needed a call to action for such a small speech.
“You’re missing a huge opportunity to influence a group of people who can help you,” I said.
Here’s the action we came up with.
This was the first Meetup at the customer’s company. It's a fairly large company. The employees had been asking for it for a while.
He needed to show upper management that the Meetups were worth the effort. He told the audience if they want more Meetups… they need to fill out a survey and rate the program positively.
That was it. And it seems so small. But his original plan was to just wing the speech with no thought.
But guess what?
Because he communicated a call to action, he had one of the highest participation rates and highest scores of any of the company’s surveys.
All because he asked for it.
Kind of crazy, right? It seems so simple, but often we forget to ask for the smallest things. Often the smallest things lead to the biggest things.
He was able to use that as momentum and create one of the best training environments in his company.
--
I wish I could take credit for this… but I was just applying basic communication principles to his speech. And it worked.
And now you can apply it t0o.
So here it is in summary:
 	
 	
Audience action is the foundation for influence
 	
 	
The answer to the audience action question sets the foundation for your message.
 	
Finally, no speech or communication is too small or insignificant to have a call to action.
About Clear Points Messaging LLC
Clear Points Messaging LLC serves small business in the Dallas, Texas area. Our goal is to upgrade the marketing you are already doing and using. We do this by making clear messages about your business so your audience will immediately understand what you offer them. We like to say we do marketing strategy and brand messaging. Our best work happens when we can help you discover what you customers’ true pain points are and clearly express how you solve them. Once we have a clear message to share, we help you implement it in the marketing you’re already doing.
Clear Points Messaging LLC
Phone: 
(972) 665-6554
Email: 
contactus@clearpointsmessaging.com
Address: 2425 N. Central Expressway, Suite 700,
Richardson, Texas 75080[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
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## Page: STAGE PRESENCE IN PUBLIC SPEAKING

Stage Fright? Improve Stage Presence in Public Speaking
            
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Why stage presence in public speaking so important?
It might be because 
25% of people
 are terrified of public speaking. Also known as glossophobia, public speaking fears can be detrimental to one's professional and personal life.
Even minor public speaking fears affect most of the population, with 
75% of people
 being at least slightly nervous at the thought of speaking to a group or crowd.
The great thing about stage fright, though, is that it can be remedied. With the right tricks and practice, any fearful public speaker can overcome their fears and improve their stage presence.
Keep reading to learn more about how to take control of your stage fright!
Why Do People Fear Public Speaking?
When we feel threatened, our bodies prepare for what's ahead. Sometimes that preparation involves the arousal of our autonomic system, stirring fear and anxiety.
The emotional fear prevents us from being able to perform or speak in front of others. At a certain point, that fear causes individuals to avoid public speaking situations altogether.
More often than not, people let their imaginations run wild and begin to overestimate the potential for failure at the idea of communicating in front of their peers. They begin to imagine the event as a threat to their image, their reputation, and credibility.
They also worry that they won't reach, connect with, and hold their audience.
Status
A lot is incumbent on whom is speaking to who. Many people find themselves more intimidated if they have to present to a group of higher positions.
Likewise, an accomplished doctor might fear presenting their findings to other reputable doctors in their field.
Experience
The less experience you have had to speak in public, the less confidence you'll have in doing so. The best way to combat this particular aspect of public speaking fear is to practice.
If you don't have much experience on a stage, it makes sense that it'll trigger fear and anxiety.
The Content
Sharing new ideas or content that you haven't shared before is intimidating. You might be unsure as to how people will understand, receive, or analyze what you present.
If you're presenting something new, opting to take questions to fill in any gaps or misunderstood information is an excellent strategy.
Skills
Most excellent and successful public speakers have developed, practiced, and honed the skills you watch them use on a stage. Public speaking comes naturally to very few people. However, with the right tips and skills, anyone can become a successful and confident public speaker.
Why Do Public Speakers Lose Their Audience?
It doesn't matter how great your content is. If you don't speak with authority and confidence, you're going to lose your audience. You have to know your message and understand exactly what you want your audience to do with it.
How will your message benefit them? Where do you want them to go from here?
Attention Span
It's no secret that global attention spans are shrinking. While 
some studies combat this
 assumption, take a look at your own life and attention span.
How long do you stay on a given web page? Do you prefer shorter emails to longer ones? Do you find yourself scrolling through your phone while watching a movie?
If you can learn to keep your audience's attention, you've mastered the most important goal of public speaking.
People Get Bored
People want to learn new things and hear new information. If it's the same old dribble, they'll get bored and drift their attention to their thoughts or devices in an instant.
If you want your audience to recognize your content's significance, you've got to treat it with the attention and excitement that you want them to give you.
Tips for Mastering Public Speaking
First and foremost, you must get comfortable in your skin. Physical posture and behavior can play a bigger role than the actual content you're delivering.
If your arms are crossed, you'll appear guarded. If you are shy and quiet, you won't grab the attention of your audience. If you clasp your hands in front, you might come off as weak.
It's vital to practice to become more comfortable moving around the stage or conference room.
It's important to understand your discrepancies, too. You can find out what kind of communicator you are by 
taking this quiz
.
Go Bigger
Whether you want to keep things casual or deliver a top-notch professional speech, it's important to go bigger in almost every aspect while public speaking.
Be bigger than your everyday disposition. The best performers, no matter how natural or talented they are, make constant efforts to entertain or engage.
Bring your opening night enthusiasm, even if it's just a conference room presentation. The more energy and confidence you display, the more likely your audience will follow along and engage the entire time.
Keep It Fresh
You don't have to include every detail or explanation of the information on the topic at hand. You want your message to be clear, yes, but fresh and short when it can be.
Don't repeat yourself, and sprinkle comments, moments, questions, anecdotes, statistics, and stories into your presentation to keep your audience engaged.
Regardless of the topic at hand, you're still a performer. Keep your audience interested as you'd want to be as a listener.
Keep Their Attention
Don't try to cram too much into your speech. Choose one topic or one aspect of a topic and keep that your focus.
Don't move around from one subject to another, and keep it simple.
Most importantly, remember to know what you want or expect from your audience. Pick one call to action and make that your goal.
Overcoming Your Public Speaking Fear Is a Feat in Itself
Public speaking is terrifying, or at the very least, scary to most of the population. If you can overcome and master your public speaking skills, you'll reap the rewards in many ways.
You'll build your confidence and gain respect and admiration from your peers. Plus, the confidence, tips, and skills you gain will translate to all aspects of communication in your life.
The next time you have a one-on-one meeting with a coworker or boss, you'll find that you feel more comfortable sharing your thoughts and knowledge.
Take a look at our virtual 
communication skills workshop
!
Do you have questions first about what will help improve your personal communication skills? 
Contact us
 with any concerns.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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## Page: START NOW

Start Now
            
Unlock Your Communication Potential
		
		
Feel Like Everyone Else 'Just Gets It' With Communication 
But You Struggle? 
You're Not Alone!
Join Our 5-Day Email Journey to Uncover and Harness Your Untapped Skills.
		
			
						Start Now
					
		
Effective Leadership Communication: Speak to Lead, Influence and Connect
Ever find yourself in high-stakes meetings, presentations, or crucial client calls feeling like you're playing a role you never got a script for? 
Despite holding titles like boss, manager, leader, or chief data scientist and having proven success, sometimes that nagging anxiety sets in that everyone else knows some 'secret communication code' you somehow missed. 
This is far more common than you realize, and here's why even experienced leaders find themselves in this trap...		
		
Unlock Your Path: Transform Fear into Confidence and Connection
Often, when our ideas fail to resonate or our directives seem to fall on deaf ears, our first instinct is to look outward.
We might think, "They're just not getting it," or "They're not cooperating." This reaction is understandable and you're certainly not alone in feeling this way.
It's a natural response to assume that the problem lies with others' inability or unwillingness to understand.
BUT, what if those moments when your brilliant ideas hit a wall don't reflect poor listening skills in others... but in how your message was initially shaped?
		
			
						Start Now
					
													
													
		
From Doubt to Clarity: My Journey to Mastering Communication
Even with a background in journalism and a track record of success in corporate communication, transitioning to direct client roles brought unexpected self-doubt. Despite my experience at companies like AT&T and Facebook, where I trained hundreds with high approval, the challenge was personal. The breakthrough came from a simple yet profound shift in communication, proving that the right words can transform not just others' understanding, but also our own confidence.		
		
Reveal Your Hidden Strength: A 5-Minute Challenge to Elevate Your Communication
Join Our 5-Day Email Journey to Uncover and Harness Your Untapped Skills
If any of this resonates with you, it's crucial to recognize that clear communication goes beyond natural talent. Dedicate just 5 minutes to our challenge below – you may be surprised to discover what's been overshadowing your brilliance and hindering the acknowledgment it deserves.

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## Page: STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION CONSULTING

Strategic Communication Consulting | Dallas, Texas
            
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Strategic Communication Consulting | Dallas Texas
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Speak Confidently. Get What You Want.
Do you or your team need a method to create effective communication streams? Are ideas being lost in translation, or not even put out on the table? If you agree that your successes will come as soon as you’re able to voice what you need, then join a plethora of other businesses who've already started working with our strategic communication consulting team to learn how.
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One-on-One Training
Some need to perfect a presentation speech. Others, the ability to voice their opinions at the office because of unfair working environments, the need for a raise, or speaking to upper-level management. Whatever the reason, we’ll help you overcome the fear, address your key points, and help build upon them cohesively and effectively so others understand you the first time.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_column_text]
Team Training
We’ve led teams from AT&T and Facebook through our strategic communications consulting so they can work more efficiently together. By working on a project together, we help you through kinesthetic learning how to collaborate, and guide you through the steps on how you can take your training past your project or presentation.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_column_text]
Virtual Training
Not in the Dallas area? No worries. We’re here for you wherever you are. We offer virtual training monthly, so you can begin learning how to be a more efficient communicator wherever you may be. We offer our workshops on Zoom or Bluejeans, with classes no more than six in your first workshop. You’ll feel the comfort you need to break out of your shell, with monthly work so your learning can be continuous and flexible.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row equal_height="yes"][vc_column][vc_column_text]
How We Work
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Step 1: Brainstorm Session
Whether you’re an individual looking for one-on-one classes, or a manager looking to guide your team towards more confident collaboration, give us a call for a brainstorming session so we can figure out what service will best suit what you’re looking for. We have a ton of options for you to choose from, including Business Presentation Coaching, Communication Skills Workshop, Effective Employee Communication Training, Brand Messaging Roadmapping, and a Strategic Messaging Plan.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_column_text]
Step 2: Accompany Your Learning with Our Workbook
Grab our Clear Points Messaging Workbook to follow along on the principles that you’re using. Part of our full training program, our workbook is a holistic approach that you can refer back to again and again to remind yourself of the most important aspects of effective communication in the workplace and beyond.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_column_text]
Step 3: Practice and Apply Your Principles
Do you know what makes us happier than offering you our services? Seeing you thrive. Take notes, practice, and implement the strategies that we’ve provided for you. Make sure to keep in communication with us during the process so we can be with you every step of the way and cheer you on during your successes! We know that you’ll do great.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=".vc_custom_1600010134355{background-color: #f9edcc !important;}"][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text]
How We’ve Helped
We conduct an ongoing communications class for six hundred data scientists and engineers at Facebook, Instagram, and Whatsapp on how to have more influence around their products and how to have confidence in their communication. Through our help, we developed a fully-functioning Influence Workshop that is still being put in practice today, teaching participants the basics of sound communication and message-building framework.
We helped Timothy O’Farrell Recovery, a foundation located in North Texas that provides scholarships to recovering addicts and alcoholics, create a new brand message through our Guided Brainstorm. Through our help, they used their new company message for their fundraising project, which helped their team better realize and explain their company’s message to interested donors and supporters.
We helped Hingepoint, a software consulting company specializing in real estate and construction, create more compelling content and copy for their audience. We helped them build their blog and organic traffic, helping create more than $2 million in sales.
We helped a healthcare software developer focus on his strengths to frame his business around. In a 3.5-hour brainstorm session, we were able to create his message, and through that, an elevator speech and the foundations of a presentation, gaining traction on his newfound specialty.
We helped a group of executives at an admired communications company pin-point and specify their company message, developing talking points and a marketing flyer that was accessible to their audience, who needed their services, but wasn’t necessarily able to understand what they were offering previously. Their data science team landed a contract for $300k and was able to get funding to build the prototype of their data service for retail stores.
We helped a manager at AT&T with a highly negative performance review by developing a strong message and developing a strategy communicating it with integrity and clarity. We role-played, acting as the employer so she could practice her rebuttal skills. Through this, she was able to get her performance review completely reversed, an extremely rare feat in corporations.
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Pricing
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Business Presentation Coaching
Save time and get a professional messaging expert to help you build your presentation.
$399 for one session lasting no more than three hours.
Includes First Draft of Key Messages and First Draft of PowerPoint presentation.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Communication Skills Workshop
$399 per person. The workshop is under four hours.
Includes [x].[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Effective Employee Communication Training
We have three options.
We can conduct one on one communication training to help your employees master communication skills.
Prices vary based on sessions. Each session lasts for one hour where we work on a real project together and help navigate the political environment through persuasive and clear communication.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Strategic Messaging Solutions
$250 per session. Each session lasts for two hour.
Includes Message Development Services and First Draft of your key messages by the end of your session.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/4"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/6"][/vc_column][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text]
Communicate with Confidence. Change Your Life.
Ready to start getting what you want and what you deserve? Get people to start listening and start communicating back with clarity. Call or email us today to begin your journey to bring you closer to speaking your truth.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/6"][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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## Page: STRATEGIC MESSAGING

Strategic Messaging Solutions
            
The Importance of Strategic Messaging
		
		
Do you want your messages and words to have more weight? To cut through the noise and truly connect with your audience? Strategic messaging can make or break the success of a business, organization, or career. Meticulous planning, sound research, and careful implementation go into conveying a sound message.
When people cannot understand you, they think your topic is not based on reason, which makes them think it is unsound, fraudulent, untrue, or corrupt.
Research suggests that your audience will view your messages with distrust and skepticism without clear, structured messages. In extreme cases, your audience will view your idea as dangerous because it is unclear.
		
			
What Is Strategic Messaging?
		
		
With strategic messaging, messages often try to convince someone what they need to do.
Strategic communication messaging is strategic because it's planned and aims to achieve a goal by influencing your audience to take action. It’s not fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants communication. Instead, it is effective, planned, and throughout.
The act of sending a message is intrinsically persuasive. The act of sending a message almost always has a clear goal of influencing an audience.
However, strategic messaging takes this intrinsic nature of messaging a step further. To be strategic or to have a strategy, you must have a plan that creates successful action to achieve a goal.
		
		
Strategic Messaging focuses on 3 key areas:
Goal-Driven:
Strategic messaging is designed to build trust and rapport with an audience to change their behavior or take a specific action. Most of the time, strategic messaging is more than just conveying information; it’s about guiding the audience toward a desired outcome.
Plan-Based:
Unlike general messaging, strategic messaging is underpinned by a clear plan. It’s not just the creation of influential messages but involves thoughtful consideration of the audience, the message’s content, and the desired outcome. Regardless of its potential influence, a message without a plan lacks strategic value.
Adaptable Based on Feedback and Metrics: 
The effectiveness of strategic messaging is measured through traditional metrics such as action on calls to action, click-through rates, impressions, and engagement levels. Ultimately, the message should drive people to act, and this should ultimately be measured. These insights guide the ongoing refinement and adaptation of the messaging strategy to ensure it remains aligned with audience needs and strategic goals.
		
			
Messaging is Part of Your Bigger Communication Plan
		
		
In larger organizations, strategic messaging is a tool within a broader strategic communication plan.
Your strategic communication plan lays the foundation—defining the brand’s voice, audience, and channels — and strategic messaging creates and delivers the messages that align with this foundation to achieve specific objectives.
Often, when you have done all the work required in a communication plan, the message becomes easy to build.
		
			
Fundamentals of a Strategic Message
		
		
The fundamentals of clear communication start with the most basic questions needed to make a clear message.
Who is your audience?
What is your topic?
What is your recommendation?
Some of these answers seem extremely apparent, but they are not.
Let's use a hypothetical example. You are working on a marketing team for a health care company opening a new heart clinic in a small community.
As a green marketer, you may think that the audience is the general public and messaging needs to be created on why this clinic is good for the community and surrounding areas.
However, local primary physicians will be the biggest source of patient referrals. There are also specific rules and regulations when marketing to physicians.
Once the green marketer understands these aspects of marketing, they will see that their audience, topic, and recommendation will all change.
		
			
Characteristics of Strategic Messaging
		
		
Message Framing
Message Framing involves deciding how to present your message to best connect with your audience.
This includes choosing between emotional or logical appeals—whether to focus on presenting facts and figures or to connect emotionally by highlighting how the product or service makes the user feel.
Additionally, consider positive versus negative framing: do you underscore the benefits of taking action or highlight the drawbacks of inaction?
For instance, a campaign to promote solar energy might emphasize the positive impact on the environment and potential savings or focus on the consequences of continued reliance on fossil fuels (negative framing).
Read about message framing here.
Persuasion and Messaging
While clarity and purpose are the cornerstones of strategic messaging, the art of persuasion elevates those messages to achieve your desired outcomes. Strategic messaging skillfully incorporates persuasive techniques into a message's structure, language, and delivery to guide your audience toward the intended action or change in mindset.
Here are a few persuasion principles commonly woven into strategic messaging:
Social Proof:
 People are more likely to follow the actions of others. Highlight testimonials, success stories, or the popularity of an idea to demonstrate its value.
Reciprocity: 
Offer something of value upfront (information, a solution) to create a sense of obligation in your audience.
Authority: 
Establish your expertise on the topic through credentials or well-researched content to build credibility.
A Continuous Loop of Feedback
Strategic messaging isn't simply about crafting a persuasive initial message. Ongoing feedback and analysis play a crucial role in ensuring your messages continue to resonate with your target audience.
Here's how to incorporate feedback into your messaging strategy:
Establish Clear Metrics:
 Define success for each message (clicks, conversions, changes in perception).
Gather Data: 
Use web analytics, surveys, or direct feedback to measure your message's performance against your metrics.
Analyze and Adapt:
 Review the data to identify areas for improvement and refine your messaging accordingly.
Strategic messaging is an iterative process. Through a combination of persuasive techniques and continuous evaluation based on feedback, you can craft messages that inform and motivate your audience to take the desired actions.
		
		
???? Want to Get Better at Spotting Frames in the Wild?
Frame Finding
 is a monthly email that breaks down how powerful people and brands use framing to shape what we think, feel, and do.
One message each month
No fluff—just sharp, usable analysis
Bonus drops when culture shifts
Trusted by communicators, strategists, and anyone who wants to stay sharp.
 
???? Subscribe to Frame Finding

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## Page: THANK YOU

Workbook Thank You
            
[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text css=""]Thank you for your payment!
You should receive your first email right away. If it hasn’t landed in your inbox within a few minutes, check your spam or promotions tab just in case.
If you have any issues or questions, contact us. Thanks again for jumping in. I’m excited to help you sharpen your message.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Once Upon a Time: The Importance of Storytelling in Business
September 23, 2020
 
by 
Jimmy Marlin Epperson
 
I wish I knew how to make a clear message in college. When I was a student, I started the College Democrats. I invited every young moderate in Oklahoma to a lobbyist’s house for a political party. College kids from across the state showed up. Hundreds actually. A US Senator was there. Gubernatorial candidates. Big-time … 
Read more
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7 Reasons Why Communication is Difficult
October 3, 2020
August 23, 2020
 
by 
Jimmy Marlin Epperson
 
 
The bottom line is that effective communication is difficult. It just is, even for naturally good communicators. If you look at the challenges modern humans face compared to our hominid ancestors, it's just complicated. Plain and simple. Here's why: The subjects modern humans talk about are extraordinarily complicated and unnatural. We respond to things that ... 
Read more
Categories 
Effective Communications
, 
Strategic Communication
 
Tags 
Effective Communications
 
2 Comments
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What is Effective Communication in the Workplace?
December 3, 2020
October 7, 2018
 
by 
Jimmy Marlin Epperson
 
 
Using effective communication in a business environment is one of the best ways to motivate and engage employees. A common myth about effective communication is that it makes people do things they do not agree with or want to do. Communicating and influence are not about deceiving someone against their will. Communicating effectively builds trust. ... 
Read more
Categories 
Clear Points Messaging Blog
, 
Effective Communications
 
Tags 
Clear Points Messaging LLC
, 
Effective Communications
, 
Jimmy Marlin Epperson

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## Page: THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING US

Thank you for contacting us
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Thank You for Contacting Us
You'll be hearing from us soon.
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## Page: THE ESSENTIAL LIST OF COMMUNICATION SKILLS FOR THE WORKPLACE

The Essential List of Communication Skills for the Workplace
            
The importance of good communication was put in a nutshell by self-improvement pioneer Paul J Meyer when he said " Communication - the human connection - is the key to personal and career success."
This is true in all walks of life but particularly in the workplace. Environments where people not only feel understood but also seek to understand their colleagues can lead to increased productivity, 
improved morale
, and even influence career progression.
On the other hand, being an ineffective communicator in the workplace can leave others feeling frustrated, disengaged, and worse.
For these reasons, we have put together a list of communication skills that if followed will reap rich rewards in your professional career.
Our Essential List of Communication Skills
This list is by no means comprehensive. Instead, we have chosen to focus on the most important communication skills that can be implemented effectively by you today.
1. Be a Good Listener
There isn't a greater feeling than knowing that the words from your mouth are reaching people's heads and hearts. We give this feeling to others and gain their respect when we actively listen to their words, rather than thinking of a response.
Show that you are a 
good listener 
by maintaining good eye contact and avoiding all possible distractions. Something as simple as checking your phone while someone is talking insinuates that we don't view the other person as that important.
2. Clear and Concise
Getting big ideas into a few words is a vital skill in an environment where people's time is at a premium. If we use too many words or mumble then people will tend to disconnect or get frustrated.
If this is our tendency take decisive action. Aim to be well prepared at meetings, being conscious of your speed and volume over the phone, and review emails to remove any redundant words and sentences before sending them.
3. Friendliness
Being known as a friendly person in the workplace will mean that people will want to talk to you, which is half the battle won in being an effective communicator.
A simple smile or asking for someone's family demonstrates that we have an active interest in each person and can open the door to other receiving our messages with a more invested interest.
4. Become Emotionally Intelligent
Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and control your emotions as well as perceive those of others. All these factors greatly impact what is said and how it is received.
We can all improve in this by picking up non-verbal cues like facial expressions and body language. Be honest with yourself also. For example, could the negative reaction to a request from a colleague be due to your prior mood rather than it being an unreasonable request?
5. Tone
Often it's not what we say but rather how we say it.
The tone of our voice is what adds color to what we say so it should match the message that we are giving, whether it be friendly or firm.
It is important to recognize that because today most contact is done via emails and other messaging services which 
lack the non-verbal cues 
that we take for granted. Therefore pay close attention to what tone your writing transmits to avoid misunderstandings.
Good Communication Starts With You
Having the ability to always get your message across is a gift but not an unattainable one. Make a start by implementing our list of communication skills and you will be sure to see an instant improvement.
To guarantee that your message is always getting across, a communication coach is key. 
Contact us
 today to find out the techniques used by the most successful businesses as well as how we can help you to avoid the most common pitfalls in communication.

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## Page: THE PURPOSE OF COMMUNICATION BE USEFUL

The Purpose of Communication: Be Useful
            
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The Purpose of Communication
The purpose of communication is to be useful by sharing important information that can help someone else.
Communication is a vehicle that carries key information needed so we can make better decisions and understand how to personally or professionally become better and what dangers exist in our environment.
I’ve been a communication pro/hack for 20 years now. I started as a journalist and moved into consulting after I realized there was little money in writing for newspapers.
I remember when I first started writing, I liked Robert Cialdini’s book 
Influence
. Actually, I grew up liking it. My dad read it when I was a kid and he was obsessed with it. He was a lobbyist for a big company, so persuasion was needed. I grew up thinking the only reason to communicate was to influence others.
This is partially true.
Anytime I led a workshop or talked to a new customer about communication, I would tell a story about an alleged caveman with limited language who would run back to his cave and point into a bush and say, “Tiger.”
The caveman wanted to obviously tell others that there was danger. He wanted to influence others to avoid the bush.
But why did he want to influence them?
He wanted to influence them because he cared. The caveman wanted to be helpful. The caveman’s purpose was to be useful to others. When we are truly communicating and want someone to know key information that might help them, it is because our motives are to be useful and helpful.
There is a direct link to your 
emotional intelligence
 and the ability to communicate effectively. If you communicate in a state of fear or resentment, it's going to be difficult to express that idea in a neutral manner. 
Leadership communication
 requires you to manage your emotions and avoid letting them fuel your communication.
Now… I’m not saying that all we have to do is care and our communication will be accepted and we can sell our products and services. There is obviously a lot of work to be done.
However, if we are influencing someone just to make a quick buck – instead of actually helping the people who need it – most prospects will see through this. On the flip side, if we are constantly communicating to someone who doesn't want help, we are just spinning our wheels.
On Facebook, I get marketed to by marketers promising to help marketers make over six figures. It drives me crazy. I don’t think their motives are good. They just want to make a quick buck on people who are desperate.
Even Cialdini warns that our motives need to be good when influencing, and I think the best way for us to do that is to make sure we are being useful and that we care.
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## Page: THE SCIENCE BEHIND OUR OBSESSION WITH THE NEGATIVE FRAMING

The Science Behind Our Obsession with Negative Framing
            
Our brains are evolutionarily wired to detect threats and avoid loss. This makes negative framing one of the most powerful tools in communication.
That's because negativity bias is a cognitive phenomenon where people respond more strongly to negative information than to positive information.
It was a survival advantage: reacting swiftly to danger meant staying alive.
A 1979 Theory Explains Negative Framing
Prospect Theory was the first major framework to explain why negative framing is so effective.
It introduced the concept of loss aversion: the idea that people feel the pain of loss more acutely than the pleasure of an equivalent gain.
The classic example is that losing $100 feels worse than the good feeling of gaining $100.
Recent neurological studies confirm this by showing that emotionally charged, negatively framed information activates the amygdala, which is part of the lizard brain that activates fight or flight response.
A 2018 meta-analysis by Steiger & Kühberger confirmed that risky-choice framing effects are highly reliable, showing that people consistently make different choices depending on whether something is framed as a loss or a gain.
How Negative Framing Influences Decision-Making
Research has also shown that negative framing can be a powerful tool, especially when your audience is already deeply engaged with the issue at hand.
Research inspired by Prospect Theory has shown that negative framing is particularly effective when your audience is already involved and thinking deeply about a problem.
When people are highly engaged with an issue, like finding a solution to a health problem, they tend to process information more deeply.
In these cases, messages that highlight the negative consequences of inaction, like worsening pain or lost opportunities, can be more persuasive and drive action.
Where Negative Framing Works Best
Negative framing excels in contexts where risk, urgency, or emotional activation is necessary and where the audience is uncertain about the outcome.
Common applications include:
 	
Public Service Announcements, like anti-smoking ads showing lung damage, drunk driving campaigns showing death or jail time.
 	
Crisis or Emergency Communication, like the COVID 19 pandemic or cybersecurity alerts, natural disaster warnings.
 	
Prevention-Focused Audiences: For those motivated to avoid harm, fear appeals aligned with their mindset can prompt behavior change.
Negative framing also interacts with other persuasion techniques that exploit emotional or social cues:
 	
Scarcity:
 The fear of missing out is heightened when an offer feels like it could vanish. This taps into our aversion to loss more than our attraction to gain.
 	
Bandwagon Effect:
 We don’t want to be left out. When a message suggests that everyone else is doing something, not joining in feels like social risk. Negative framing can imply exclusion or loss of status.
 	
Authority Appeals:
 When a trusted source states something is negative, we listen. Authority can lend credibility to a negative appeal, intensifying its effect.
These dynamics combine to make negative frames especially potent—but also potentially manipulative.
The Negative Frame Can Backfire
Negative-Framed Health Messages
A 2024 study published in 
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
 (Stanulewicz-Buckley & Cartwright) examined when the frame backfires.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, negative-framed health messages ("You could die if you ignore this") increased anxiety but didn’t always improve compliance.
Research shows that for vaccine-hesitant individuals, positive framing worked better; negative framing increased resistance.
The study found that loss-framed messages raised anxiety more than gain-framed ones, but this didn’t lead to better compliance. People were more likely to follow public health guidance when they trusted the authorities and felt confident in the government’s response. In other words, fear may catch attention, but trust drives behavior.
Negative Framing and Uncertainty
Perceived Efficacy Matters:
 Research by Block & Keller (1995) found that when people are unsure a behavior will work, they think more carefully, and are more influenced by messages that highlight the risks of not acting.
However, when people believe the outcome is likely (high efficacy), positive and negative frames perform equally well. This shows that negative framing is more persuasive when outcomes are uncertain.
Emotional Saturation
If an audience is repeatedly exposed to fear appeals, they may become desensitized or disengage altogether. Overuse of alarmist messaging may undermine long-term trust and responsiveness.
Making It Work: Strategic, Ethical Negative Framing
Negative framing is most effective when it’s not only emotionally resonant but also structured with intention. Here’s how to construct a message using this frame:
 	
Identify Your High-Involvement Audience:
 Focus on those who are already deeply concerned about the issue. These individuals are more likely to think carefully about the risks you present—and negative framing works best when people are engaged enough to process those risks thoughtfully.
 	
Use Negative Framing:
 Craft messages that clearly outline what could go wrong if the audience doesn’t take action.
 	
Encourage Immediate Action:
 Make it clear that taking action now can help avoid those negative outcomes.
Prompts to Clarify Your Message with Negative Framing:
 	
What are the risks or negative consequences of inaction?
 	
How could this situation worsen if not addressed?
 	
What urgent message needs to be conveyed?
 	
What negative outcomes are you trying to prevent?
 	
What consequences will your recommendation avoid?
 
Example:
Audience:
 Leadership and SEO vendor
Topic:
 Overly narrow local keyword focus
Recommendation:
 Broaden keyword strategy to include more diverse local terms
Message:
Our current SEO approach is too limited. By focusing on only a few general local terms, we’re missing opportunities to reach the specific audiences who are actually searching for care.
If we continue down this path, we risk falling behind competitors who are showing up for more specific, intent-rich searches. We may lose visibility in the very markets we're trying to grow.
To avoid this, we need to expand our keyword strategy to include a wider range of local and service-specific terms. Doing this now ensures we stay visible and competitive—before someone else takes that ground.
 
Guidelines for ethical, effective use:
 	
Focus on real consequences, not exaggerated catastrophes.
 	
Always offer a clear, empowering solution: "Here’s what to do next."
 	
Pair negative framing with positive action language.
 	
Test for audience characteristics like anxiety, self-efficacy, and knowledge.
Tone matters. Consider the difference:
 	
 "Ignoring symptoms could mean a fatal diagnosis."
 	
 "Catching symptoms early helps avoid serious consequences."
 
Alert, Not Alarm
Negative framing can be powerful when it taps into what’s true, urgent, and consequential. But when it crosses into manipulation or fearmongering, it erodes trust. So use it to awaken, not to overwhelm. Ask yourself: Am I alerting the audience to a real risk, or just trying to scare them into action?
Sources:
 	
Stanulewicz-Buckley N, Cartwright E. (2024). Persuasiveness of Public Health Communication During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Message Framing, Threat Appraisal, and Source Credibility Effects. Int J Environ Res Public Health.
 	
Block, L.G., & Keller, P.A. (1995). When to Accentuate the Negative: The Effects of Perceived Efficacy and Message Framing on Intentions to Perform a Health-Related Behavior. Journal of Marketing Research, 32(2), 192–203.
 	
Steiger, A., & Kühberger, A. (2018). A Meta-Analytic Re-Appraisal of the Framing Effect. Zeitschrift für Psychologie, 226(1), 45–55.
 	
Kahneman, D., & Tversky, A. (1979). Prospect Theory: An Analysis of Decision under Risk. Econometrica, 47(2), 263–291.
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## Page: WHAT IS EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN THE WORKPLACE

What is Effective Communication in the Workplace?
            
															
		
Using effective communication in a business environment is one of the best ways to motivate and 
engage
 employees.
A common myth about effective communication is that it makes people do things they do not agree with or want to do. Communicating and influence are not about deceiving someone against their will.
Communicating effectively builds trust. It gets people to say “yes” because they see the value in what you are saying and because they trust you. It's not a sales or marketing campaign and it is not about being a sycophant or an authoritarian to get something you want.
Instead, effective communication uses invisible means — or a mix of the fundamentals of communication and persuasion techniques — to make a change in others.
		
		
How Should We Define Effective Communication?
First, let’s define both words in Effective Communication
Effective means, “successful in producing a desired or intended result.”
Immediately, we see that “effective” means that we want to achieve something. We want something to happen. We want someone to do something.
Our other word — communication — means, “exchanging information or news.”
		
		
What is Effective Communication?
Effective communication is when a person wants the desired outcome by sharing key information or news. The purpose of sharing this information is to influence others to achieve a goal or result.
This is much different from small talk with your colleague or boss. When we communicate effectively, we want someone else to do something. We want other people to change their behavior.
Setting a clear goal or clearly understanding what you want from the outcome of communication is critical.
		
		
How Can You Improve Good Communication in the Workplace?
Do you ever say something to a business partner without knowing what you want them to do?
Sometimes we have an idea. It’s jumbled in our head and we are not sure how it specifically relates to our audience or the person we are talking to. Often we do not know what we want them to do.
Our business colleague, manager, or employees leave our meeting unsure of what we want them to do. Any time we produce uncertainty, we also produce anxiety and skepticism.
Research suggests that the more specific you can make the action you want others to do, the more influential it becomes. It’s a way you can begin building trust. The more the listener can visualize the task, the more they will be willing to do it.
To get the desired result, one of the first places you must start is by defining the action.
Nine times out of ten, our ask is simple. However, if it is portrayed unclearly, then your audience will automatically be skeptical. Skepticism is bad. Skepticism from a listener most often occurs when you are unclearly communicating.
		
		
Communicating as the Boss
When you’re the boss, effective communication helps you influence and change the people who report to you and others in the company.
Have you ever had a communication that was unclear from your boss? It’s difficult to know what action you should take. You are left feeling uncertain about which way to proceed, and if you don’t have the clarity you might even have anxiety associated with the actions you plan on taking.
That is not effective at all.
When you’re the one reporting to a boss, the way you speak is just as critical. It should help your boss see that what you do has value and it should show your boss where he or she can support you.
If you cannot say these things clearly, you’ll have little support for your ideas.
What's more, from an evolutionary perspective, humans are designed to constantly scan for things that can harm them. We take this 
natural instinct to work
 with us. If we see something unclear, chances are we will think it is dangerous and risky if we do not understand it.
		
		
What kind of action should we have people do?
First, the intended result we want people to do has nothing to do with feelings. It’s about the action people take after they hear your message.
When we consult, it never fails that someone will say, “I just want my audience to be informed;” or, “I want them to feel” energized, happy, anxiety.
These feelings or states of being are not actions. And you will not be influential if you go for them.
You might use feelings to get people to act. However, feelings or a state of being should not be the outcome you want from your messages.
Your message should help your audience understand why the action you want them to take is important.
In corporate America, internal communication campaigns should almost always be associated with driving some type of metric. If you're in human resources and you need to get people to take training, then your communication plan's goal should be to move the adoption rate.
There is a direct link between action in an organization and a communication plan.
		
		
Barriers to Effective Communication Skills
Your Audience
Often, our audience’s attention span can block us from getting our point across. We explain this in our blog post: 
How to lose your audience when public speaking
.
The point, however, is that if we are not speaking clearly and there is the need to interpret what we say, then bye-bye. You lost your audience.
Your Message
The way you say what you are communicating is one of the most critical aspects you have seen with your interaction with other people.
If you are an expert known for your technical skills or you have deep domain expertise in your business, you already have built-in trust.
However, the moment you speak in a way that is confusing to others, you lose that credibility.
Your Context
We’ve also found that context is important. You can provide the context in a meaningful way, which we described above. It’s also how we portray or 
frame
 the context.
When working with a new team, almost everyone will say how important it is to give the proper context. Very few will say that they need to get the proper context from their audience.
It’s important to understand the context your audience has. This is much easier to do in an internal communication setting because we know who we want to influence.
This is much more difficult with marketing because we don’t know specific names, we just have an idea of who we are speaking to. Often marketers call this a client avatar.
If you do not understand your audience’s context, you will not be able to communicate effectively.
Here are four key characteristics of effective communication.
You need to have clarity on the topic you are communicating. When I say clarity, I mean being able to say your topic in 70 characters.
You need to know your audience and offer a recommendation or call to action.
You need to tell your audience why they (or the business) will have the advantage by following your recommendation.
Your communication needs to be crystal clear, without the use of jargon or words that make you sound smart.
Remember, effective means you are going for a specific result. Communication is sharing important information. If what you are sharing does not have a clear call to action, is not important, or does not change behavior, then it is not effective communication.
		
			
Start Learning Here
		
		
Get started by learning to transform your jumbled thoughts into clear points.
		
															
															
		
Use our Message Framing workbook, and focus on the fundamentals of communication to make clear messages.
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## Page: WHAT IS THE CONTRAST FRAME

What is the Contrast Frame?
            
The Contrast Frame is a powerful communication strategy that deliberately highlights similarities and, more often, differences between two or more things.
Contrast is golden key to framing.
It shows up more than any other frame, followed closely by 
metaphor and analogy
. But even most good analogies are really comparisons.
And comparisons are just contrast in disguise.
I’ve come to believe contrast is the core of most powerful frames. Here are some current examples: 
Old vs. new societal norms (
Frame Finding #019
)
2022 AI sales vs. today’s (
Frame Finding #022
)
The analogy comparison (
Frame Finding #023
)
Comparing AI regulations with a sandwich (
Frame Finding #011
)
—-
Contrast’s primary purpose is to help audiences put information into perspective, clarify complex concepts, and emphasize the advantages or disadvantages of specific choices.
In essence, it's about context. As Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman explains in 
Thinking, Fast and Slow
, our brains are constantly seeking reference points. 
The Contrast Frame provides those reference points, making it easier for us to process and understand new information by pitting it against something familiar or contrasting.
How the Contrast Frame Works: The Psychology of Contrast
The effectiveness of this frame stems from fundamental principles of human perception and cognitive processing:
Contrast for Clarity:
 Our brains are inherently wired to notice contrasts. When two options are presented side-by-side, their unique qualities become more apparent. This juxtaposition allows us to understand each element more clearly than if it were presented in isolation.
Focus and Importance:
 By deliberately highlighting differences, the Comparative Frame directs attention. It subtly (or not so subtly) indicates which aspects of the comparison should receive the most focus, guiding the audience toward a particular interpretation or conclusion.
The Principle of Contrast (Robert Cialdini):
 One of the most critical psychological underpinnings of this frame is Robert Cialdini's "Principle of Contrast," as detailed in his seminal work, 
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion
. Cialdini demonstrates that when two items are presented in sequence, the second item often appears more different from the first than it actually is.
As Cialdini explains, "The contrast principle is well-established in the field of psycho-physics and applies to all sorts of perceptions. If we lift a light object and then a heavy object, the second seems heavier than it would have had we lifted it by itself. The contrast principle operates in a rather insidious fashion."
In communication, this means presenting a less desirable option 
before
 a more desirable one can make the latter seem even more appealing. Conversely, presenting a very attractive option first can make subsequent, less attractive options seem even worse.
Applications of the Contrast Frame
The Contrast Frame is remarkably versatile and permeates various aspects of public discourse and everyday life:
Advertising & Marketing:
 "Our product is 
faster
 than the competition and uses 
less
 energy." Or, a higher-priced item presented first to make a subsequent, lower-priced item seem like a bargain.
Political Messaging:
 "Candidate A's plan will lead to prosperity, 
unlike
 Candidate B's approach, which will burden taxpayers." Political campaigns frequently juxtapose their policies with opponents' to highlight perceived advantages.
Teaching and Learning:
 Comparing historical events (e.g., the causes of WWI vs. WWII), scientific theories (e.g., classical vs. quantum physics), or literary characters aids deeper understanding and retention.
Decision-Making:
 Analyzing options side-by-side, such as in a pros-and-cons list or a feature comparison table, is a direct application of this frame to make informed choices.
Visual Communication:
 Infographics, comparison charts, and "before and after" images inherently leverage the comparative frame to present information visually and impactfully.
Types of Contrast
The Contrast Frame can manifest in several ways:
Similarity:
 Emphasizes common ground or shared features between options. "Both proposals aim to reduce spending, but differ in their methods."
Difference:
 Focuses primarily on how the options diverge in features, outcomes, or values. "Our approach prioritizes long-term growth, while theirs focuses on immediate returns."
Advantage/Disadvantage:
 Directly showcases why one option is superior or inferior to another. "Regular exercise can significantly lower your risk of heart disease, 
compared to
 the detrimental effects of a sedentary lifestyle."
Example: Promoting Exercise
Let's illustrate with the topic of promoting exercise:
Highlight Similarity:
 "Walking and strength training are both excellent ways to improve your overall health and boost your mood."
Emphasize Difference:
 "Walking is a low-impact cardiovascular option accessible to nearly everyone, 
whereas
 strength training specifically builds muscle mass and bone density."
Highlight Advantage (using contrast):
 "Consider the vitality and energy you gain from consistent exercise, 
in stark contrast to
 the fatigue and increased health risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle." (Here, the negative "sedentary lifestyle" is the contrasting anchor making exercise seem more appealing).
Tips for Using the Comparative Frame Effectively and Ethically
Because the Comparative Frame, particularly the Contrast Principle, can be so influential, using it responsibly is paramount:
Choose Relevant Comparisons:
 Ensure the things you compare are logically related, genuinely distinct, and meaningful to your audience. Irrelevant comparisons can confuse or mislead.
Be Fair and Objective (or transparent about bias):
 While the frame often aims to persuade, avoid exaggerating differences or presenting outright biased comparisons. If your intention is to advocate for one side, be clear about it, but still base your arguments on facts. Misleading comparisons erode trust.
Keep it Concise:
 Focus on the key contrasts that matter most for the decision or understanding at hand. Overly detailed comparisons can overwhelm.
Understand Your Audience:
 What are their existing beliefs or knowledge? Frame your comparisons in a way that resonates with their perspective.
Remember
: The Comparative Frame highlights differences for impact. It's your responsibility as a communicator to use comparisons honestly to inform, educate, and persuade without manipulation. When employed thoughtfully, it's an indispensable tool for clear and compelling messaging.

--- 
## Page: WHY IS COMMUNICATION SO DIFFICULT

7 Reasons Why Communication is Difficult
            
													
			
7 Reasons Why Communication is Difficult
		
		
The bottom line is that 
effective communication
 is difficult. It just is, even for naturally good communicators.
If you look at the challenges modern humans face compared to our hominid ancestors, it's just complicated. Plain and simple. Here's why:
The subjects modern humans talk about are extraordinarily complicated and unnatural.
We respond to things that appear complicated with a fight or flight physiological response.
Words mean different things to different people who have diverse expertise.
		
			
Communicating Started When We Were Born
		
		
Communication is like breathing. We begin to communicate with others as soon as we are out of the womb with our first breath and first touch.
We begin communicating before we are even aware of ourselves as human beings.
Our minds are hardwired to communicate. Our natural ability to express ideas allows us to persuade another person.
It's our evolutionary trait. We cannot NOT communicate, even if we choose to say nothing or do nothing.
It's what separates us from other animals. Our communication can enhance and evolve our awareness and our society for generations to come.
		
			
Communication is Critical to Our Social Standing
		
		
Communication is the foundation of our society. We are social primates, and we are dependent on being accepted in society and enhancing our status in the eyes of others.
Our existence and safety have relied on communication for millennia. We are still dependent on it, just like our ancestors, who could face exile or be reprimanded for their actions.
We feel the same anxiety today at work. Promotions and career advancement count on others' perceptions of our behavior, loyalty, and actions.
So why is it so difficult to say just what we mean?
Words can only symbolize actions and things in the real world. When we speak about things in modern times — like technology or finances — it gets complicated.
The subjects we communicate about are naturally not easy to explain or to understand. The lizard brain adds an extra dimension that becomes extremely difficult to manage.
We explore both of these points below.
		
			
Theory of How Words Formed
		
		
To understand this point, let's look at the most fundamental theory of how words and meanings began. The most common theory is that our human ancestors started 
making sounds that soon gained meanings
.
As our social ancestors banned together to stay 
safe in the wild
, sounds began to communicate dangers in the uninhabited world.
Our ancestors eventually began combining words to form a message: "Run. Tiger."
Words were associated with our fight or flight responses. These sounds could start the biological reaction that happens when we perceive an attack or threat.
		
		
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7 Reasons on Why Communication is so Difficult
		
		
1. The Modern Problem with Words
In his book 
The Way We're Working isn't Working
, Tony Schwartz states that we have taken the need for survival into our work and social settings. We still associate the same physiological response to words and perceived threats.
Even though our lives are not threatened like they were when we were in the desert, we still feel like they are in danger.
We will have the same biological reactions when we feel threatened. This perceived threat can come from something as simple as the inability to understand what someone else is saying.
When we cannot understand, there is uncertainty. Neuroscience research even shows that our brains view uncertainty as an error.
		
													
													
		
2. Stuff is Complicated
The main difference between then and now is that what we are communicating about now is much more complicated.
And for the modern human, we usually are not in peril; however, we still have these primordial reactions.
Before, our human ancestors only dealt with the natural world. Now we are communicating about human-made mechanisms:
The economy
Finances
Work
Technology
Corporate rules
Raises
Vacation
Promotions
Management
Retirement
Debt
Marriage
And so on
These things are tricky.
This complexity can easily cause confusion in communication. And when there is confusion, it can be perceived as an error.
		
													
													
		
3. Words Mean Different Things to Different People
The only way words form is when humans start using them, and we assign general meaning to that word.
The act of thinking and forming words and meaning is 
subjective
, which means that meaning is constructed based on personal opinion and interpretations.
However, when we speak to other people, we think that what we are saying are objective, which means it’s measurable and fact.
So think about that. You say a word that has a meaning in your head. And when you speak it, you automatically assume that it has the same meaning everywhere else.
If we are talking about a “tree,” it is difficult to see the point here. When we start talking about things that use 
jargon
, like “platform,” “applications,” or “wireframes,” it becomes apparent that we can have different meanings to words.
		
		
4. The Fluency of Messages
So far, the cards are stacked against us. The stuff we communicate is complicated, and things mean different things to different people.
But here is another reason why communication is so difficult.
People automatically view a new idea with skepticism when we communicate in a way that is hard for someone to understand. The person receiving the message might even think what you're talking about is dangerous or unsound.
It's a shortcut that we developed over time. The shortcut states that if it is hard for me to understand you, I will think your idea could harm me. This "shortcut" is all done automatically. We developed these social shortcuts so we can make decisions more quickly.
		
		
5. Our Emotions
Some of this was alluded to above. We have a lizard brain that causes us to flee or fight when we feel danger. We also have an array of other emotions that can block effective communication.
If we are not clear, we can send the lizard brain in overdrive.
The listener can sometimes "see" or sense our own emotions while we are communicating. If our feelings are not consistent with what we are saying, then, this too, can cause distrust or insecurity.
Emotional Intelligence is one of the four primary requirements to have healthy 
Leadership Communication
.
		
		
6. The Performative
Actions speak louder than words. This is similar to how emotions can block us from seeing the meaning of communication. We can say one thing and then behave differently.
Every parent in the history of time has been "do as I say, not as I do" situation with their children. When these crop up, it confuses our children. It is difficult for them to comprehend the message.
The same is true anytime we are hypocritical, not performing or doing what we suggest others to do.
		
		
7. Empathy and Listening
If you do not listen to whoever you are speaking to and you do not understand their question or comments, then there will be a misunderstanding.
Listening and feeling where someone is coming from is the most powerful communication tool we have. Once we understand where they are coming from, we can help them see the value in what we are saying.
		
		
In Conclusion
Why is communication so difficult? Because it is difficult.
We don't look at someone running a marathon and wonder, "Why is that so difficult to do?" We also don't look at a woman giving birth and ask, "Why is that so difficult?"
They are just difficult things to do.
The same is true for communicating your true meaning. It is a strenuous exercise and takes training and hard work.
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It's highly recommended that you get started here, with this three-minute exercise. 
		
					
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--- 
## Page: WHY POSITIVE FRAMING WORKS AND WHEN IT DOESNT THE SCIENCE OF ENCOURAGING ACTION

Why Positive Framing Works (And When It Doesn't): The Science of Encouraging Action
            
Positive framing clarifies benefits, boosts motivation, and helps people take action from a place of confidence. 
But it also has limits—and knowing when and how to use it makes all the difference.
1. Why Positive Framing Feels Good (and Works)
Our brains are sensitive to language that signals reward, growth, and opportunity. 
According to Prospect Theory, people are motivated not just by avoiding loss but also by the possibility of gain, especially when a message aligns with their personal goals or regulatory focus (promotion vs. prevention).
In marketing, health, and leadership communication, positive frames can:
Reduce fear or hesitation
Reinforce trust and optimism
Help people envision a better outcome
Create a sense of momentum or success
2. What the Science Says: Evidence from Health Psychology
A 2023 study by Bender et al., published in 
Health Psychology
, examined how side-effect messaging about COVID-19 and influenza vaccines influenced public perception. 
In a randomized experiment, 652 participants were shown video messages from a physician. 
Some messages used standard language about vaccine side effects; others used positively framed language designed to reduce nocebo-related expectations.
Key Findings:
In the COVID-19 condition, positive framing reduced participants' expectations of adverse side effects.
In the influenza condition, positive framing increased the perceived benefit-to-risk ratio.
However, among individuals with strong anti-vaccine attitudes, this same positive framing decreased their willingness to get vaccinated.
Takeaway:
 Positive framing can lower fear and increase perceived benefits—but it must be tailored. When values or beliefs are in direct opposition, a purely optimistic tone may trigger skepticism instead of action.
3. When Positive Framing Shines
Positive framing is especially powerful when:
Encouraging preventive actions (like exercise, sunscreen, healthy eating)
Promoting trust-based decisions (like brand loyalty or ongoing care)
Supporting goal-driven behavior (fitness plans, coaching, skill-building)
Engaging promotion-focused audiences (those motivated by reward, growth, or achievement)
4. When It Doesn’t Work
For skeptical or oppositional audiences:
 When someone is already mistrustful (e.g., vaccine-resistant individuals), a positive frame can come off as dismissive or manipulative.
When urgency or risk needs to be conveyed:
 Sometimes, sugarcoating delays action.
When there’s no clear benefit:
 If the action doesn’t clearly lead to gain, positive framing falls flat.
5. How to Use Positive Framing Strategically
Positive framing offers more than just a pleasant tone—it offers a perspective shift that emphasizes benefits and future possibilities. 
Coaches, politicians, business leaders, and educators have long used hope-based messaging to motivate their audiences. 
From "Yes We Can" to "Make America Great Again," the core idea remains the same: highlight what could be gained and make it feel real and attainable.
But it's not just about tone—it's also about the performative effects. A message framed as positive in intent might unintentionally induce fear. Consider the example:
"Need to get a yearly health check-up? These check-ups can help spot any health issues you might not even know you have."
The intent is proactive, but the language may instill anxiety. A more effective version might be:
"Routine medical examinations can help alleviate anxiety about potential health concerns and provide reassurance about your overall well-being."
This shift avoids triggering unnecessary fear and stays focused on a positive emotional outcome.
How to Use the Frame:
Identify the Positive Aspects:
 What benefits or opportunities does this message highlight?
Craft the Message:
 Focus the narrative on these gains.
Use Optimistic Language:
 Signal hope, opportunity, confidence, or well-being.
Watch for Performative Effects:
 Ask: Will this lift or burden the listener?
Prompts to Help You Frame It:
What is a positive result that could happen from this situation?
What specific issue do you want to improve?
How will your recommendation benefit your audience or their community?
Brainstorming Questions:
Who is your target audience?
What are you communicating about?
What are you recommending?
What are three reasons this is a good opportunity?
Positive Frame Template:
You have an opportunity to
 [insert topic] 
by
 [insert recommendation].
We should do this BECAUSE:
[Supporting Point One]
[Supporting Point Two]
[Supporting Point Three]
Example:
Audience:
 Leadership and the SEO team
Topic:
 Broadening keyword strategy
Recommendation:
 Target a more diverse range of local terms
To our leadership and SEO team, we have an opportunity to enhance our online presence. By expanding our keyword strategy to cover a broader range of local search terms, we can increase visibility on Google and attract more qualified traffic. This shift strengthens our digital footprint, diversifies our reach, and drives future business growth.
Step-by-Step Guide:
Identify Strengths:
 What positive attributes are true and meaningful?
Emphasize Benefits:
 What’s in it for the audience?
Use Empowering Language:
 Speak to agency, potential, and progress.
Check the Performative Effect:
 Are you creating reassurance and momentum?
Prompts to Shape Your Frame:
What gains are possible?
What strengths or achievements can be highlighted?
How will this action lead to a better future?
Message Template:
We’re making meaningful progress with
 [your topic]. 
By taking action now, you’ll benefit from:
[Benefit 1]
[Benefit 2]
[Benefit 3]
Let’s move forward by
 [your recommendation].
6. Example in Action
Audience:
 A hesitant internal team being asked to adopt new project software.
Topic:
 Switching to a more collaborative platform.
Message:
We’re at a turning point in how we collaborate, and this new tool gives us a chance to streamline our workflows. You’ll be able to cut down on email clutter, simplify file sharing, and keep track of action items all in one place. It’s a smarter way to work—and it’s built to grow with us.
Confident, Not Complacent
Positive framing works best when it’s grounded in truth and aimed at possibility. It helps people act not out of fear, but out of a belief that their action will lead to something better. Use it to build trust, momentum, and vision—but remember: optimism must be earned, not assumed.

--- 
## Page: WORK WITH CLEAR POINTS

Work with Clear Points
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Learn skills most people who communicate do not know.
 	
Understand how persuasion, audience and clarity all intertwine with creating change in others.
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