THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
The latest industry insights and trends.
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A gift for every person(a) in your life – and the deeper “why” behind all our recommendations!
Forget the guesswork this festive season; our team, seasoned in the art of understanding deep consumer desires, has curated a list of gifts that promise to be more than just presents. These are experiences, memories, and joys waiting to be unwrapped.
Whether you're shopping for clients, partners, or loved ones, our guide is your secret to gifting success.
Let's spread the holiday cheer with choices that inspire, engage, and create lasting connections!
Don’t Be Scared of Suspense in Your Story: Eight tricks (and treats) to take your story from spooky to spectacular!
Driving suspense in stories is an oft-used tactic to keep audiences and readers enthralled and hanging on your every slide. Expert storyteller and CEO Lisa Osborne shares her best tips on ways to use suspense to ensure your next presentation lands.
Storytelling in Uncertain Times: The Questions That Really Matter for Your Business to Succeed
Although the market responded positively to the recent news that the Fed signaled a slowdown on interest rates, by the time you read this, other news may send markets downward. A series of major events have rocked our globe over the past several years—each with devastating human consequences: the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, inflation at a 40-year high. Knowing your customer in times of crisis is critical to safeguarding your business. It provides a roadmap to re-align your strategy to weather the storm. Today, Insights Director John Sularz reveals the essential step you need to take to ensure organizational resiliency during unstable times.
The Right Way To Tell A Story With Data: Five Steps That Will Engage And Influence Your Audience Every Time
For researchers, all data is good data, and we love to gather, consider, compare and share it. When it comes to storytelling, however, we must resist the urge to include and show all our data. Today we explain the five steps to effective data storytelling that will engage your audience and influence action.
Stop Confusing Everyone with Your Data and Learn the One Thing You Can Do to Fix It – Starting Now
Did your last research project create more questions than actionable steps? Want to maximize the comprehension and influence of your next project? Today we share the key to unlock the true potential of your research with this one change…
How to Tell Consumer Stories that Break through the Noise
Do you see your consumers as a collection of stories or statistics? Listen as CEO Rob Volpe connects the dots between empathy and insights with stories from his new book Tell Me More about That: Solving the Empathy Crisis One Conversation at a Time.
Studies Reveal Your Voice is More Powerful Than Your Powerpoint and a Case Study That Proves It
If you find yourself constantly re-working and fine-tuning your PowerPoint presentations in an effort to influence decision-makers and motivate your team, it may be time to mix it up with a new approach. Today we share the research-backed method that will captivate your audience and move your insights and ideas into action.
The Most Exciting, and Terrifying, Time to Be in Consumer Insights
We asked 3 of the brightest client-side insights leaders we know to participate in a roundtable discussion about a range of issues facing the industry today.
Elizabeth Oates, Sr. Director, Consumer Insights at Ulta Beauty, Humayun Rashid, Director, Microsoft 365 Research & Insights, and Marlene Straszewski, former Senior Director, Consumer Insights at General Mills each shared insight and perspective on the evolving role of the consumer, what research methods will be in demand in the future as society opens up again, the power and importance of listening as well as what’s needed from insights agency partners today.
Our #1 system for creating successful stories
You are often swimming in data, reports, and information. You don’t have the time on your weekly priority list to think deeply, you only have time to think about what to get done NOW. But without that Big Idea and story, you won’t know what matters most, what is at stake, and what to do next. You need a system!
How to Tell Personal Stories in a Privacy Protective World
We love using stories of the amazing respondents that we meet to illustrate points, to motivate our clients to action. But with new rules around data privacy, can we do this? Do we need to rely on vague composites that are so generic they don’t feel real? Can we ever use a quote, include a picture or show a piece of video again? Short answer: Yes. Here’s how.
The Right (and Wrong) Way to Fall in Love with Your Idea
You think you’ve got a great business idea, but how do you know for sure? What if you are blinded by your love it? It can happen. We’ve all been there with our giant emoji heart-eyes. Here are four things you can do to ensure your business ideas will be a success.
![3 Steps to Conduct a Story-Driven Meeting [Infographic]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/624247eb60664a28bd22abb6/1655555972640-UU2X3QCRE9LMYFWC2R68/Ignite360-storymasters-meetings.png)
3 Steps to Conduct a Story-Driven Meeting [Infographic]
When it comes to meetings, you can’t just show up. Preparation is key if you want the story to come to life. We got together to talk meetings with our Learning Catalyst, Eric Snyder. In this colorful infographic, seasoned moderator and facilitator, Eric shares his tips and tricks to set the stage for aha discoveries and deeper connections.
How to Tell a Story with Data
Researchers are obsessed with data. To us, all data is good data and we love to gather, consider, compare and share it. But when it comes to storytelling, how do we resist the urge to include and show all of our data, especially when it comes to quantitative storytelling?
3 True Stories of Failure (and Triumph)
In today’s world of perceived perfection, it is rare for anyone to share their own stories of professional failure. Yet, stories of failure teach us how to do things differently. In this revealing post, three industry leaders openly share their own storytelling failures and what they do differently now.
![Learn How to Speak Up: The Power of Spoken Stories in Business [Podcast]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/624247eb60664a28bd22abb6/1655573501848-8AQP0FR7ZUYU4H70SKO2/Ignite360-spoken-stories.jpeg)
Learn How to Speak Up: The Power of Spoken Stories in Business [Podcast]
Our Storytelling series continues with a brand new podcast! COO Lisa Osborne talks in-depth with author, messaging expert and communication coach Dr. Michelle Mazur, founder/CEO of Communication Rebel. Drawing upon examples from her recently published book, 3 Word Rebellion: Create a Message That Is Bigger Than Your Business, Mazur shares practical advice you can use right away to improve your next presentation. You'll learn the critical distinction between delivering a speech and delivering a message and the two most important parts of your presentation you never want to give up!
Are You Communicating at Work Visually or Are You Still Hung Up on Words?
Mary Meeker’s 2019 annual report on internet trends describes a world where digital communication is rapidly going visual – pictures, emojis, icons, you name it, people like viewing it. Not surprisingly, visual story elements are expected in business communications these days. Our Visual Storytelling Guide gives you 6 easy ways elevate your storytelling.
How to write story-driven reports
We live in the information age. We operate within the attention economy. Yeesh. With all that competition, how is your report going to get traction with your stakeholders? With a compelling story! We created Storymasters: A Guide to Written Stories to give you the tools to write story-driven reports.
No More ‘Thud!’ 4 Tips to Turn Your Insights into Action
The best insights are only as good as the actions they inspire. Conflicting agendas and too-packed calendars often leave teams unable to internalize and take action. These 4 tips will help you turn your next share out into an Application Workshop (or Activation Workshop depending on your company’s nomenclature).
My Recipe for Story Crafting Deliciousness
Are you over the typical dry corporate PowerPoint? Want to create a rich story? Here’s how to cook up a breakthrough and connect with your audience.
Keeping Your Head: 1 Sure-Fire Way to Improve Your Storytelling at Work
When everything seems to be falling apart around you because headlines are bad, sales are flat, or research is lackluster, you can keep your head with a story. The key? Use the storytelling style that best suits you.