Perhaps the single best technique for understanding the views and feelings of others regarding messaging is to use focus groups, which are, in essence, group exercises dedicated to teaching empathy. Focus groups, at least those that are conducted by skilled professionals, are effective in helping people acquire empathy because the conversation often snowballs to allow participants to see the perspectives of others.
100 Insights
-
-
Market research is actually about the business of empathy. If PR messages are designed to create or shape attitudes, opinions and behaviors, it is vital to understand how the intended audience currently thinks, feels or acts.
-
It’s difficult to empathize with recipients of your messages if you don’t know much about them. Gaining insights that help you see the world through their eyes is the only way to put them at the center of the receiver experience. Empathy is an interpersonal skill – something to be learned.
-
PR can be summarized as telling your story to a target audience. Most people are satisfied with how they tell their story; however, an element many forget is empathy – the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. If you don’t consider the viewpoints of others, communicating with a group may not be effective.