Workshop - Serving with soul: Making communications more human-centred -
Tracks
Breakout 3 Room: Rongomatane B
| Thursday, November 16, 2023 |
| 11:40 AM - 12:30 PM |
| Breakout Room B, Rongomatane B |
Overview
Julia Anderson and Kassy Hayden, Mitra
Details
People are hard-wired to be part of a tribe – to feel they belong and are being heard. So why are our communities becoming more polarised? Why is there growing mistrust in governments? And why do we see more people being portrayed as villainous outcasts via social and mainstream media? In this workshop, we examine what global research can teach us about core human values and their ability to divide or unite people. We will consider how understanding others’ values helps us to relate, communicate and connect more deeply with people who are very different to us. Through hands-on exercises, participants will:
• discover what values they hold most dear,
• learn how to ask questions – and listen – to better understand and connect with other people, and
• discuss hot topics in local government from a values perspective. “Communication is merely an exchange of information, but connection is an exchange of our humanity.” – Sean Stephenson.
Speaker
Julia Anderson
Director
Mitra Limited
Workshop: Serving with soul: Making communications more human-centred
Abstract
People are hard-wired to be part of a tribe – to feel they belong and are being heard. So why are our communities becoming more polarised? Why is there growing mistrust in governments? And why do we see more people being portrayed as villainous outcasts via social and mainstream media? In this workshop, we examine what global research can teach us about core human values and their ability to divide or unite people. We will consider how understanding others’ values helps us to relate, communicate and connect more deeply with people who are very different to us. Through hands-on exercises, participants will:
• discover what values they hold most dear,
• learn how to ask questions – and listen – to better understand and connect with other people, and
• discuss hot topics in local government from a values perspective. “Communication is merely an exchange of information, but connection is an exchange of our humanity.” – Sean Stephenson.
• discover what values they hold most dear,
• learn how to ask questions – and listen – to better understand and connect with other people, and
• discuss hot topics in local government from a values perspective. “Communication is merely an exchange of information, but connection is an exchange of our humanity.” – Sean Stephenson.
Biography
Julia Anderson and Kassy Hayden are the Directors of Mitra – the first human-centred communications agency in Aotearoa.
They have years of experience in the public and private sectors, bringing a people-centred focus to strategy, engagement and storytelling in sectors including local government, technology, engineering, environment, climate change and science.
Their research into human values and empathy brings a unique perspective to their work: in an increasingly polarised society, they advocate for finding shared truths that can build common causes between people who may have very different perspectives.
Julia and Kassy have also researched the science of storytelling, discovering more about why humans engage with compelling stories, not mere facts and data. They’re using what they’ve learned to show others how to engage their communities, customers and colleagues more effectively and empathetically.
Kassy Hayden
Mitra
Workshop - Serving with soul: Making communications more human-centred
Biography
Julia Anderson and Kassy Hayden are the Directors of Mitra – the first human-centred communications agency in Aotearoa.
They have years of experience in the public and private sectors, bringing a people-centred focus to strategy, engagement and storytelling in sectors including local government, technology, engineering, environment, climate change and science.
Their research into human values and empathy brings a unique perspective to their work: in an increasingly polarised society, they advocate for finding shared truths that can build common causes between people who may have very different perspectives.
Julia and Kassy have also researched the science of storytelling, discovering more about why humans engage with compelling stories, not mere facts and data. They’re using what they’ve learned to show others how to engage their communities, customers and colleagues more effectively and empathetically.
