What Flogas & Britney have in Common

I got a free ticket to see Britney at the O2 on Saturday…and with no other plans for Saturday night, I went along to the O2.

What a production! The Circus tour, I thought, was modelled on Cirque du Soleil….the staging was wonderful, the interim acts (while Britney changed) were great - clowns, acrobats and incredible support dancers. Congratulations to the team that put the whole production together.

But I just couldn’t help but wonder about authenticity and staying real when Britney came on stage. All the rumours that I heard were that she mimed or lip synced through-out the show.

I couldn’t help but agree.

I just thought - what was the truth? She’s a singer - so why did it appear that she didn’t sing live? But then again she is also a performer - so why couldn’t she dance and sing live (ie. perform) at the same time? She looked great though.

While not thinking per se about work on a Saturday night, I really got to thinking how important it is to stay real and truthful. I work with clients on words and how to use them to most effectively communicate the right messages. Up until now, I never realised or I guess verbalised that these words and messages are truthful words. Words that engender a sense of reality, truthfulness and authenticity.

It’s a simple concept - but staying real is so important in engaging with prospects, customers and staff.

Enter Flogas

Back to the hum-drum of real life, I decided it was time to Make the Big Switch! I decided to do my research with Flogas first. I just glanced at the computer clock - 5.25pm. The pdf online said

To Start Saving Money Now, Call

1850 306 800

Mon-Friday, 9am-5.30pm

So I called up, hoping to catch someone…with 5 minutes to go until home-time! Security answered the phone. I asked to speak to someone about the Flogas natural gas as an alternative to Bord Gais. The nice security man explained that the office is open from 9am-5pm.

A fine example of people not saying what they mean. Why say 5.30pm when it’s actually 5pm? 5pm would have been fine by me - I’d put them on the to-do list for tomorrow. It might just a typo but it engenders friction. Friction leads to mis-trust and annoyance. Quite the opposite of what Flogas intended with their new campaign, I’m sure.

Business is all about engaging with people. Trust begets engagement, which in turn results in relationships, which in turn leads to business.

If there is one thing that businesses should do with the wording that they use - is to stay truthful. Say it as it is.

In summary, you can always be creative but stay true & just be honest.