Episode 19: The Science of Creating Heroes for Nonprofits, with Dr. Beth Karlin
July 15, 2021
Over the last few decades, there has been a sea change in the way we understand human behavior and guide or sway people to making decisions and taking action. This wave of research—observation and experimentation—has come to be known as Behavioral Science. Dr. Beth Karlin created the See Change Institute and devoted her career to help organizations use this power for good.
In this episode, Beth joins Boris to discuss why and how organizations should apply the principles of behavioral science to their communications and campaigns. From messaging that increases action-taking, to fostering a sense of identity around your cause, we break down dozens of ideas and strategies to activate more heroes for your cause.
Over the last few decades, there has been a sea change in the way we understand human behavior and guide or sway people to making decisions and taking action. This wave of research—observation and experimentation—has come to be known as Behavioral Science. Dr. Beth Karlin created the See Change Institute and devoted her career to help organizations use this power for good.
In this episode, Beth joins Boris to discuss why and how organizations should apply the principles of behavioral science to their communications and campaigns. From messaging that increases action-taking, to fostering a sense of identity around your cause, we break down dozens of ideas and strategies to activate more heroes for your cause.
Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep19
What we discussed:
- What behavioral science is and how it applies to nonprofit organizations
- The importance of social norms in communications that inspire action
- Crafting messaging and calls to actions that resonate with your heroes
- The role of identity and consistency with ourselves and our peers
- The importance of story and relationships to your voice and your brand
- How to collect insights to understand your audiences’ commonalities and differences
- Applying the Fogg Behavioral Model to remove barriers and increase action
- Potential behavioral pitfalls to watch out for